The first of our Perkins clan lived on the Rappahannock River in Virginia in the 1660’s, about 50 miles east of Richmond.
Then 200 years ago, my direct ancestor Richard Perkins left Virginia, heading west. He did not make it to Texas, but his son, William Henry, my grandfather’s grandfather, arrived there in the 1850’s.
Now we have moved to Virginia - back to our long-ago home.
Virginia (including WV)
before the Civil War
RVA - glad we moved here
Quite an effort to move across the country and get re-established at our age. Richmond, Virginia is a fun place - lots of history, lots of shopping, and lots of restaurants. Near DC to the north as well as the mountains to the west and the ocean to the east.
My Perkins family left VA 200 years ago. In a sense, we are back where we started in the 1600’s. We are not “FFV” - First Families of Virginia - but we have a long connection with VA.
Interesting to see what unfolds over the next several years. Fairly open to try new things, assuming the nation does not fall into chaos. VA is a purple state - US Senators are Democrats, US Rep is Republican, state Senator is Democrat, state Rep is Republican.
Trump 2.0 off to a rocky start, net negative even on the economy
DJT - a unique figure
Maybe we do get the political leaders we deserve. Trump won in 2024 with <50% of the popular vote, but he is our President.
Historians will write about his administration for years. In my lifetime, the LBJ years are similar in terms of impact, though in a different direction.
At the moment Trump is destroying the US economy, our position in the world, the rule of law, universities, etc.
DSM-5 defines the diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personal Disorder (301.81) as - pervasive pattern of grandiosity in fantasy or behavior, need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood. Sound like someone?
What do you think about the interaction of religion and politics in America today?
TJ - the separation of church and state
Virginia’s own Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1777 -
“Be it enacted by the General Assembly, that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.”
In other words - One’s religious thoughts will not impact their civil capacity. Are church and state separated today?