Today is my birthday-turned 66 years old. Born during WWII, I become a senior during war: Israel is at war, we are going to increase troops in Afghanistan... the list grows every longer of Child of God killing/maiming Child of God. "When will we ever learn?" as the old song goes.
How to celebrate my birthday. The day started with my missing my "Happy Birthday" from the grand kids-sung over the phone. In a way it is good because I save it all the year and can listen whenever I need a picker upper. I have their Merry Christmas from 2007. I got the kids a web cam for Christmas so we could see each other while we talk but mom and dad must not have set it up yet.
Nothing for Christmas or my birthday from either Jason or Jodi. That makes me feel badly but after 2 years of no contact, I don't expect anything different. The healing of our relationship depends on Jason.
I didn't want to be alone today so I made 18 cupcakes and took veggie dip and cut up veggies to www.Camphope2009.org as I took part in the vigil for justice and peace about 2 blocks away from Obama's S Side Chicago home. It was cold in the low 30's and cloudy, rain had been forcasted but if felt like snow. However neither fell this afternoon. I stayed for about 3 hours as the Kairos community (study and action of non-violence) was the honor guard for today. Kathy Kelly, Nobel peace prize nominee was present for the morning.
We took pictures, we gave the cupcakes to the kids that passed by, the good folks sang "Happy Birthday" and ate the truffles I brought (given to me by a patient's spouse for Christmas). Everyone had a great time as we gently froze. Our warm up spots included a Subway and Walgreens and a rent a truck with back plastic-flap door (created by Voices for Creative Non-Violence, see http://vcnv.org/ I used the rest room in the Walgreens once.
We had a good time with the Rev. Finley Campbell an African-American UCC pastor who marched with MLK in Chicago. He is a fiery preacher and a walking history lesson. I really appreciated being with him. And will hear him again, I am sure on 1/19 as we close Camp Hope at the Federal building in Chicago.
We did get to see Obama "whiz by" as he headed home. First the Chicago police put cruisers at the intersection so noone could drive through. They sent a police captain (I think) to come to our corner where we knew immediately Obama must be coming through. Kathy Kelly offered the officer "cupcake or truffle" but he politely declined. Then to our left we saw a Chicago police car immediately followed by a stretch of black SUVs going way to fast for the neighborhood. We knew Obama was in one of them. A couple of folks said they saw him wave at us but the glass was too dark for me to catch sight of him.
What was scary was the SUV, windows down, with the SWAT team in gear holding huge weapons/rifles of some kind and looking nastily at us. They were by us in less than 10 seconds and into the "compound" made by barricades across the street and a Chicago police car that sits in the opening. Once your credentials are checked "he opens the gate" by backing up. He does the same if you are leaving the "compound" but didn't check credentials going out. So I can say "Obama came through my birthday party!" :-) We were hoping he would "stroll out one last time" and come to greet us, but at 4 when I left he hadn't walked the 2 blocks to do that. Too busy packing for the move to DC, I guess.
Someone proposed a CampHope for DC across from the hotel I understand he will be living at until he moves to the White House. We'll see if the energy to create Camp Hope will be there.
The organizers were discussing the length of day and the actual logistics of putting it up and taking it down every day. They were talking of bringing a BBQ for heat-no electric available. This vigil is going to be a rough one-just like the work Obama must do to lead our country in these difficult times. I will return on the 6th and the 11th and maybe other times if I can to help out
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