I'm quiet, I don't like crowds. I'm not a marcher. I'm a watcher, I'm a writer, an observer. I wont shout, I hate to impose, create a ruckus. It's just not me.
Still, after breakfast and with Ed's encouragement...
... I brave the drizzle, the insanity of clogged streets and diverted traffic and I join the Madison women's march on the Capitol.
To lend my presence, to up the count.
You know me. I wont engage in political banter here. Besides, I haven't much to add to what has been said elsewhere by wiser people who have done the analysis, studied the facts, engaged with science. But I do feel I cannot stay silent when leaders, the highest ranking leaders of my adopted country speak and lead with venom and impunity. Fear-mongering, exclusion -- these I cannot ignore. I've seen it elsewhere. I've lived through it. I know what's at stake.
And so I march.
For several hours State Street is a sea of marching humankind (close to 100,000 claims one local news source), with hand painted signs and the ubiquitous pink caps, moving mostly quietly, sometimes taking up a chant about democracy, about inclusion.
I am with them.
It's a foggy, wet day. I haven't seen sunshine since my day in the Polish mountains and looking at the forecast, I wont see it for another week at least. On the upside, calendar pages are turning, moving winter on its merry way forward so that the next season can slowly emerge.
In the evening, my granddaughter comes over for pizza and a sleepover. It's a routine she knows: Ed and I catch the evening news, I make up a fresh mushroom and garlic pizza.
Tonight's news is all about the marches around the globe in solidarity with the Women's March on Washington. Snowdrop lends her cheerful support!
We eat pizza...
We play.
And I offer her a new addition to her toy foods -- macarons. I mean, you don't need to go to Paris these days to find macarons!
Snowdrop, it's bedtime!
No, gaga! Not bedtime!
Aren't you tired?
No, not tired!
Sleepy, just a little?
No.
Well I am! Goodnight dear one, goodnight farmette birds and animals. Goodnight hidden moon and cloud covered skies. Good night, good night...
Still, after breakfast and with Ed's encouragement...
... I brave the drizzle, the insanity of clogged streets and diverted traffic and I join the Madison women's march on the Capitol.
To lend my presence, to up the count.
You know me. I wont engage in political banter here. Besides, I haven't much to add to what has been said elsewhere by wiser people who have done the analysis, studied the facts, engaged with science. But I do feel I cannot stay silent when leaders, the highest ranking leaders of my adopted country speak and lead with venom and impunity. Fear-mongering, exclusion -- these I cannot ignore. I've seen it elsewhere. I've lived through it. I know what's at stake.
And so I march.
For several hours State Street is a sea of marching humankind (close to 100,000 claims one local news source), with hand painted signs and the ubiquitous pink caps, moving mostly quietly, sometimes taking up a chant about democracy, about inclusion.
I am with them.
It's a foggy, wet day. I haven't seen sunshine since my day in the Polish mountains and looking at the forecast, I wont see it for another week at least. On the upside, calendar pages are turning, moving winter on its merry way forward so that the next season can slowly emerge.
In the evening, my granddaughter comes over for pizza and a sleepover. It's a routine she knows: Ed and I catch the evening news, I make up a fresh mushroom and garlic pizza.
Tonight's news is all about the marches around the globe in solidarity with the Women's March on Washington. Snowdrop lends her cheerful support!
We eat pizza...
We play.
And I offer her a new addition to her toy foods -- macarons. I mean, you don't need to go to Paris these days to find macarons!
Snowdrop, it's bedtime!
No, gaga! Not bedtime!
Aren't you tired?
No, not tired!
Sleepy, just a little?
No.
Well I am! Goodnight dear one, goodnight farmette birds and animals. Goodnight hidden moon and cloud covered skies. Good night, good night...
So glad you went. Wonderfully big and lively marches in Australian cities too. All around the world it seems time for women to take the lead on behalf of everyone, and the planet.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you went to the march Nina. I marched with 100,000 in the rain in San Francisco. It was very peaceful and the age range looked to be a few months old to a few months shy of people in their 90's. I was so impressed with the young women and men who believe that they are the future and must do their part in creating the future they want. Wonderful day all around the world. Solidarity!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised and inspired to see the photos of Women's Marches all around the country and, my son told me, around the world.
ReplyDeleteI'd been shunning or hiding out from all media all of Inauguration week (I didn't watch the Presidential Inauguration for the first time in my life, and I remember the Kennedy Inauguration. Usually it is such a patriotic thrill for me that I use a vacation day) Therefore I somehow didn't know anything about these marches, until my son and his wife texted pics to us. I'm glad they represented us, and glad that you did too.
As you know, I was busy all weekend taking care of the Next Gen Progressives :)