Scared....

While clearly not the most intelligent person on the block, I pride myself on being a good observer and a proficient problem solver. Back in the '60, my friend and I were working in Santa Monica for the summer. Both of us were naive Colorado girls and we wanted to see what a protest actually looked like. We hiked over to the Century City Hotel where President Lyndon Johnson was staying. As we walked in the crowd toward the protest, we could hear a band playing and the cheering. It was very exciting. We were on a bit of a rise and could see it all. The band was on a flat bed truck was parked under the overpass. The concrete overpass amplified the music, the singing and dancing was thrilling, and when we found a couple of discarded signs, we joined in. It was a party! We sang, we danced, we yelled, and we shook our signs. True, we were well groomed, looking quite out of place amoung the hippies and war resisters. I suppose we just stood out. A police officer came over and severely ordered us to, "Get out of here!" We dropped our signs and ran. I had followed my parents into the Democratic Party and was a Johnson supporter. What had happened to make me protest someone I was not against? Looking back, I do think the protest was a good thing. The Viet Nam war needed to be ended and the people were speaking. But I wasn't old enough, worldly enough, or wise enough to be a participant. The scary part to this day is how easily I got caught up. The pounding music, the dancing, the yelling, and I joined right in. Going to the Million Women March on Saturday will take great courage. I have told friends and family that I am afraid, but I am going to Denver with six women I have never met. I hope I am old enough, worldly enough, and wise enough to be there. Sent January 26, 2017