Travel across the country and you will experience regional differences. Just like in the song "God Bless America," "From the mountains, to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam," that couldn't be truer. Our country has one of the most diverse terrains on this planet. Politically, our country is diverse too.

As mentioned in the 2022 letter, "Red States, Blue States and Family," my mom was a lifelong Democrat. My dad was a lifelong Republican. Dad said his vote always canceled hers. Other than that, they were happily married 'til death did they part.

Dick and I are Republicans but he's more conservative. We've been married forever so far. Ha ha! However, our adult children tell us it's hard to be friends with folks of a different political viewpoint. For our generation, political debate amongst friends at a dinner party was accepted. The news was more in the middle back then and people were more informed.

When and how did our country get so far apart? This isn't about Donald Trump although he hasn't helped the situation.

Does social media and the news cause us to be more divided? We're served information that validates our own opinion, not to form it. Fox News Radio isn't available in my car in northern Wisconsin. I listen to NPR (National Public Radio) to get news and nearly drive off the road.

Dick and I live in the blue state of Illinois and drive across the border to the purple state of Wisconsin, home of the Uline headquarters in Pleasant Prairie, WI. Right now, I'm trying to tone down my "rhetoric" and think about what's great about these states outside of politics.

Illinois

• We are multigenerational Chicagoans who love the Bears, the Cubs at Wrigley Field and Northwestern University football. Chicago, once known as "The City That Works," celebrates these teams and always has a hope that next year can get better. The key word is "hope."

Wisconsin

• Up north, a place called Manitowish Waters, WI is home away from home in the summer. We enjoy the Milwaukee Bucks and love seeing the cannon shoot brats to the crowd during time-outs. Is there anything more Wisconsin than that??