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Sunday, January 22, 2017

Such a weekend!


I mentally wished everyone Godspeed, then went to bed Friday night. I knew I could not watch for the march on television Saturday morning, just like I could not watch the inauguration. I’d wait to day’s end, and be ecstatic or crushed.

Beth stopped for a couple of hours Saturday morning. She was the weekend mom for Francis’ rock climbing group. Beth is a direct descendant of my grandmother and my mother. Just a month ago she was helping a friend who has a shop in the old, and now trendy, section of Cleveland. She fell down the last four basement steps, careening off the stone walls and landing on the concrete floor. She broke her right shoulder, tore muscle and tendon from the elbow and shattered her radius and ulna.




They waited several days for surgery, to assemble the three surgeons required to repair the damage. I imagine her in three times the pain of my broken shoulder, but Saturday was her rotation to ferry the load of rock climbers, so she did. She sat on my sofa and did her exercises for two hours.

Later, Laura and I went grocery shopping, then to visit K at the old house, with cookies and our Christmas puzzle. Late afternoon my phone buzzed a text from Beth: On Facebook there are posts from all over the world. The march is all over the world! It is so amazing.


We wrapped the puzzle at six, and came home. I looked at Facebook. I spent until bedtime, reading all the posts. I want you to know, I cried. Four million women, children and men all over the world. There is a voice for human rights and equality. We must not lose that voice again.

In my news feed this morning, Politico says potus fumes over the inaugural crowd size. Were they turned back at the gate, I wondered. In the news, seas of pink and placards. Did you see the four in Moscow, with signs, and posting Strolling with you in Moscow. Marches are banned. John Lewis in Georgia, “I know something about marching!”

Back to business this morning. The Washington Post announcing potus has bombed the health care markets. Remember, Don’t Mourn; Organize. 

The weekly newsletter, Actions for Democrats, Independents &Republicans of Conscience is in my mail box, and this week a device after my own heart. A checklist! I thumbed through the links to finding information, and they are good.

I live in an extremely gerrymandered district, giving me three representatives to chose among according to my zip code. I know my representative because it’s my job to know this stuff. But this link goes on to refine the search by zip plus four, and there’s my representative.

There is a search for senator, for phone numbers, email addresses, and mail addresses. There are explanations of strategies that work well. And, this week’s activism list includes a good old fashioned Mr. Smith Goes to Washington tactic. “Get a pile of postcards (or sheets of 110lb cardstock to make your own); get stamps; a book or two of 34-cent stamps for postcards.” Signing you name on an email petition is far less effective than writing a few lines of what you are objecting to. Actions for American of Conscience has many you can research and follow up on.

I’ve printed my worksheet, and will have it filled in before we go back to finish the puzzle over supper tonight. Tomorrow morning, as my grandmother said, “Pull up your corset strings, girls. We have work to do.”




28 comments:

  1. I too wept as I saw so many people marching. In every continent. Including Antarctica.
    Down but not out.

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  2. Good goin'. I just wish we weren't a day late and a dollar short, as the saying goes. Oh well, life has to go on.

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    1. I wonder if the hate, bigotry, misogyny, Islamophobia, and on and on might redouble back on dear old potus.

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  3. Thank you for posting the links. I've been itching to do something beyond making a hat and tearing up about the marches. Now I have a list.

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  4. The world's response has been nothing short of amazing.

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  5. I, too, was amazed. I hope he is feeling the heat there in the White House. Thank you for the links. I will make out my work list for this week.

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  6. I'm very happy to say we had 2 daughters and a niece marching Saturday.

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  7. Very good point about the postcards...much better than signing a petition organised by all too recognisable - and thus ignorable - groups.

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  8. I'm really pleased to hear there are marches and words being spoken all over the world. With luck, some common sense will filter through and be heard.

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  9. I am so proud of all the females and males who marched. I feel bad that I wasn't able to go myself. All those women and no riots, no windows smashed, no police being attacked. Yet they were seen all over the world. How's that for making a statement?!

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  10. Your poor friend with her injury! Sounded painful. I loved how my niece marched with my grand niece yesterday. Hand in hand they went to get a pedicure and a manicure and had a great talk about how special my grand niece was in the eyes of God. That brought tears to my eyes :)

    betty

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  11. Estrogen prevailed and not one incident was reported from all those events. I am sure the president's words the day before prompted the tremendous crowds that attended. His speech backfired and I sincerely hope that everything he tries to do backfires also.

    I have been doing old fashion things lately and making calls and writing letters to my representatives. My daughter sent me a list of things to do in the next 100 days and I will try to follow it as best I can. They can't ignore all his women power.

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  12. Areal photos of the marching protesting masses was incredible, no denying those numbers Mr Trump.

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  13. Those shoulder injuries take a long time to heal - even if you are young.

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  14. It was so inspiring to see the response around the world. It's on...

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  15. Well done to all the women and also men who participated in the many marches all around the world as well as Washington. We will not be cowed...

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  16. And so it begins. Again, and again. Until we get it right.

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  17. I love you. I wish we lived near each other. Thanks to your link I sponsored a marcher too. and I shall download this checklist. sorry to hear about Beth's fall. a friend of mine did something similar, fell down three concrete steps and shattered her leg bone above the knee that had recently had replacement surgery on, pulverized a section of bone and is desperately trying to save her leg. note to self...do NOT fall dow stairs. re the new occupant of the WH, he not only signed an order to stop enforcing the ACA, he also signed an order stopping the government's lawsuit against Texas' onerous voter ID law, and announced he will slash SS and Medicare and Medicaid, and he plans to get ride of the National Endowment for the Arts, for the Humanities, PBS, and PublicRadio, and told the CIA it was a mistake to leave Iraq without their oil and maybe they'd have another chance to get it.

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    1. When the train was coming at us, I though we could fight back, a little here, a little there. This megaloblast seems overwhelming. However, there are four million of us. We'll see what we can do.

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  18. I like your final sentence..my mother used to say a similar thing...but for her it was her bra strings!

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  19. I can read blog posts like this one. Positive and planning. Thank you Joanne. I say that for your take on life if there is a blogger in the States I would like to meet, it would be you.

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  20. Well said Joanne. That march was pretty impressive.

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  21. I was thrilled by the marches. I called my friend Carol to tell her what was happening. Then that creepy little press secretary sean spicer held a press conference and yelled at journalists for telling the truth. This must not stand.

    Love,
    Janie

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  22. I am writing a letter to Portman tonight.
    YOU are awesome, Joanne!
    xoxox

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  23. I know gerrymandering is ridiculous in Florida and North Carolina.

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  24. Thank you for your good suggestions! My district is very gerrymandered, but I have Marcia Fudge for a rep and I am very happy with her work.I'll look for this newsletter you suggest.

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  25. Starting research now, already have post cards. I hope they get read! need to get this done before it is outlawed! As outrageous as that sounds, I fear the power of the dictator we have!

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