Our son was despondent over the election. "How are YOU doing? He shoots back.

"I'm fine. Life goes on."

"I've lost my faith..."

"When was the last time we took a flag photo? Look.." and I gesture expansively "This is America, adapt. Succeed despite them."

And those last three words, passed on casually to him for the first time ever at age 21...were once my raison d'etre at his age.