You Don't Have To See Them To Know They Are There - Week 33 9/4/07

Today's vigil was minus Spadoman in body, but not in spirit. As it approached the 5 o'clock hour, I pulled up in the family mover, the "mystery van" loaded with my daughter and grandchildren. Jumping out of the van, the two older kids went to the back to unload the flag and signs. My daughter was unloading the baby from her carseat to the stroller. Lilly was lagging in the backseat. Anxious to get to our post we moved along, and still Lilly was doing something in the van. When she exited the van she was holding her hands out away from her body, fingers closed, we knew this could only mean that she was holding on tightly to the invisible hands of her two friends Noni and Jacob. As time went on other vigilers arrived, a young man walking down the street stopped and engaged us in discussion, formerly a self-professed "hawk" he told us how he couldn't support this war now. Another young man, a freshman at Northland College, saw us as he explored town and came over to thank us for being there and said he will join us in the future. Traffic was light, but enthusiastically honked, waved and showed us the peace sign. In all we were 10 visible people and 2 invisible ones. I choose to count Noni and Jacob because they are as real as the spirits of those who believe in Peace and can't stand with us in person.
Spadoman and I will be out of town for the 9/11 vigil time, maybe Noni and Jacob will take our place. If you believe in something it can be.

I want to take this opportunity to share one of my favorite writings, what a great world it would be if everyone observed these rules.

Everything I Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten - Robert Fulghum

Share everything
Play fair
Don't hit people
Put things back where you found them
Clean up your own mess
Don't take things that aren't yours
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody
Wash your hands before you eat
Flush
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you
Live a balanced life-learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some
Take a nap every afternoon
When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together
Be aware of wonder. Remember the little seed in the styrofoam cup: the roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the styrofoam cup - they all die. So do we
And then remember the Dick and Jane books and the first word you learned - the biggest word of all - LOOK