Thoughts on Minnesota

When I’m at a loss for words, sometimes I write a song

In 1910, my grandma was 10 years old when her mother, my great grandmother, dug up the few valuables they’d buried in their yard, packed a suitcase and left their shtetl about 50 miles from Kyiv to set off to meet my great grandfather in America in search of a better life.

I’ve spent years wondering what that must have been like to feel so existentially desperate for safety that you’d pick up your family and leave. And at what point did they know it was time to go?

I always thought I’d be ahead of the curve — that if I ever saw the writing on the wall, I’d know when to leave. That never again meant never again for anyone.

But now I can see how hard of a choice it is to pick up your family and leave. I imagine what these families who’ve risked everything to come to America must have gone through to get here.

Sending love and hope to all who are freezing, mourning, marching and missing in Minnesota and beyond.

Sometimes it’s hard to speak up - but I hope if I do, it might encourage you to do it too.

And when I’m at a loss for words, sometimes I write a song. Thanks to Nashville Director (and dear friend) Lauren Balthrop for singing along.

Listen here 👇

A note that on IG the end of the song was cut off, but this is the whole thing — the end is an important part of the song (though it includes me messing up the guitar part, oops!).

See that little silver kiddish cup? That’s the one that was given to my great grandparents on their wedding day, saved from Pogrom raids by being buried in the backyard 50 miles outside of Kyiv, and dug up to bring to America when they came here in 1910. Now it sits in an old letterpress tray in my office alongside things I’ve acquired over the years — at home and abroad ❤️

My grandmother (Bubby) Mona in Detroit, Michigan. I was lucky enough to know her until her passing when I was in college. Her 126th birthday would have been last Saturday.

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I will continue sharing my passion for music and songwriting, my journey as a small business founder, and so much more. But I also feel I have a responsibility — to this community I’ve built, and to my children, who will have questions one day about how we let things get this far.

We are all human — and we are at the brink.

It’s important to speak up.

If you’re feeling powerless, here’s a site to check out for ways you can help.

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By @lowlitfun

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I lost a lot of instagram followers recently after posting there. I hope this resonates with you and I’ll see you here next time. If you liked this post, please share it with a friend or leave a comment below. It means a lot!