Peggie is one of the most charismatic of the Mansion residents. Her children take her out frequently, she goes out to dinner, Bingo games and family dinners. She is an animal and puzzle lover. She stood up slowly – her back was hurting her today – and she talked about the death of her husband, who she loved dearly, and the struggles her two brothers had with Muscular Distrophy.

It was interesting to see how closely the residents and the refugee children paid attention to one another. Everyone wanted to hear what the other side came to say. I couldn’t help but thinking of the divisions and hatred in our country between the left and the right.

If these children, new to America and still learning to speak English could communicate so easily with these elderly rural people, most of whom had never been out of this country, then why is is our leaders and citizens cannot sit down with one another any longer and listen to one another.

Today gave me great hope.