Sharon's Peace Pilgrimage

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

And then there were ten...



One by one they came. First Nancy who had been standing alone at a park in Palo Alto. Then Marta whose quiet, steady support has been a mainstay of the Grandmother book project. Elizabeth, our P.R. maven who sent out over a thousand emails to women around the country. Jean and Kay, with big smiles on their adorable faces. Little Wilma, who at 79, can stand longer and stronger than the rest of us put together. Kate, a mediation attorney/professional photographer, who has been taking the photos you see on this blog so is never in the pictures herself! Then Grandma Ginny in a bright Hawaiian shirt. And Ellen who brought a chair in case her ankles didn't hold out, accompanied by her friend Ron -- a brave and stalwart gentleman -- whose pastor told him about women standing in Lithia park to save the world. "My mother would know just what to do," his pastor Pam said when talking about the warring factions. "She'd sit everybody down and say 'I don't care who started it -- it's got to stop.'" And the people said Amen.

Right on cue, Jason P. Mason, a reporter for the local newspaper, showed up to interview us. Actually, he's nothing like Jason P. Mason! His name is Bob and he'll be back tomorrow with a photographer. We're hoping some members of the Ashland Peace Choir (returned last night from a wonderously successful singing tour of Japan) will be joining us.

And so it continues. Two hours -- 7:30 to 9:30 each morning. The big grassy area in Lithia Park. A blessed way to start the day. Join us -- in spirit or in person.