Friday December 30

Today was a welcome dry hour, even though we all came prepared for rain. There were six to eight of us throughout the hour. One visitor, an elder and combat veteran, suggested that there would always be evil in the world, and consequently war also. Another visitor wondered whether the chemicals we use in our wars contribute to disorders like autism and multiple sclerosis.

Thursday December 29

Another rainy evening at the vigil, almost a relief after the unusual dryness earlier this month. Several people came and went, including one occasional visitor, but there was six of us for most of the hour.

Wednesday December 28

Rain during the entire vigil, likely the wettest hour we have spent this month. Five of us at the beginning, nine or ten at the end. One man stopped to say, in a friendly way, "But now we are out of Kuwait."

Tuesday December 27

Today was a damp vigil. Nine people halfway through the hour, down to five at 6:00PM.

Monday December 26

Three people to start the hour, seven of us at 6:00PM. This Monday, the day after Christmas (Boxing Day), was even sweeter than the usual Monday; cookies arrived first, followed shortly by frosted brownies. And our spirits were more than usually hopeful, as we told ourselves the story of the Christmas Day visit by a six-year-old and his family.

Sunday, 25 December

A week left in this year!
Quiet and dark with a drizzle, I stood alone for a bit, signless. It feels like holding a space open when this happens.  It is important, to me at least, that someone is there - that the start of the hour is marked by a conscious choice to stand vigil.  Few cars.  One more person.  Then a family of four arrived.  The six year old boy carried his hand lettered sign, "No War".  They've come to stand for peace at this child's request that they join the protestors on christmas night.  Introductions were happening as the van arrived - signs were selected amid conversations about the signs.  it felt like a tremendous gift to have this family stand the balance of the hour with us.  The boy's hands were cold and 45 minutes is a long time to stand in the dark; yet, he persevered and spoke with brightness about ending war and his intention to come again.  His grandmother said she might make a sign saying, "Bring our troops home from Japan."  Germany too, all those places we occupy.  that would be an interesting turn for the passers-by - provoke some new thoughts and questions.
The clock tolled six and we moved to the van with our signs; our new young protestor tossed his sign in with the rest, saying he'll look for it next time but others can use it.   makes this woman's spirit smile to think about the brightness of that child and the family who nurture him.   would that all children could be so fortunate.

Saturday, 24 December

Arrived late to find 3 I knew and a stranger. We had a total of 5 over the hour.  Talk circled on matters of holidays and religion, commerce and diversity, prejudice and ignorance.  What good were read this year?  If you could do anything for the next 24 hours what would it be?

Friday December 23

Four people at 5:00PM, then seven or eight at the end. Some of us talked with a woman who had a personal vigil just down the street, to call attention to the loss of her son to governmental care. And two separate caroling groups sang at the courthouse.

Thursday December 22

Two at the beginning. People came and went throughout the hour, and there were four of us at 6:00PM. We finished the hour talking about prosthetic aids, including a one-handed walker and a "sock-putter-on" for when you can't bend at the waist.

Wednesday December 21

Winter solstice. Four of us at the beginning, then six at the end. Our friends from Oakland returned to keep us company, noting -- as did we all -- how cold the afternoon was. They had visited Avery Park Nature Center and Willamette Park during the day. We appreciate their accompaniment.

Tuesday December 20

Two people at 5:00PM, then ten at 6:00. We had two visitors from Oakland, environmental educators. We talked about what is happening in Oakland and in Corvallis. I was reminded both of how much is happening here and how much more needs to be done for peace and justice in the world.

Monday, 19 December

Three, then me and soon three more - through the hour we had  11 who came to stand.  Are we still here?  Isn't the war over?  The troops are out of Iraq.  We leave an armored embassy and how many mercenaries?  We leave an ancient civilization shattered and scattered with the land poisoned from our weapons of lingering destruction.
Is the "Home for the Holidays" smoke and mirrors to confuse and distract?
One of our number points out a miniature tableau amidst the shrubbery - a clever depiction of an "Occupy"  occupation.   fine piece of work.  A photo tomorrow is hoped for.
Excellant cookies and decadent truffles.

Sunday December 18

Six to nine of us throughout the vigil. Someone from Eugene stopped by to regale us with stories and opinions from the Occupy group there.

Thursday December 15

One person and no signs to start the hour, six of us, and signs, at 6:00PM. Early on we were visited by four enthusiastic supporters who knew nothing about the vigil. I was reminded how much I miss in the world around me. Today's news included the departure from Iraq of the last US troops. Now, if only our government would de-fund the mercenaries there ...

Wednesday December 14

Seven people at five o'clock, eleven at six. One of several conversations was about laying chickens, particularly how to care for them in winter.

Tuesday December 13

Six to eight of us throughout the hour.

Monday December 12

Four at the beginning of the hour, ten or eleven at 6:00PM. It was a cold afternoon in front of the Benton County courthouse; one person suggested an "Emperor penguin vigil", where we all huddle together and take turns being in the center.

Sunday December 11

Four or five at 5:00PM, about eleven at 6:00. One vigil-er showed off a home-sewn Christmas gift: a flying saucer, complete with space alien. It seemed at home at the vigil. :)

Saturday December 10

Half a dozen during the first half hour, about eight at the end. One end was a small book discussion group (In the Garden of Beasts and The Borrower are recommended), and the other end talked generalities, including how each of us plans to spend Christmas.

Friday December 9

Two of us at 5:00, still two when I left to catch the 5:30 bus.

Thursday December 8

Two of us to start the hour, then four folks when I left halfway through the hour.

Wednesday December 7

Pearl Harbor Day. Half a dozen of us throughout the hour, briefly as many as eight. With no rain and little fog, the afternoon was comparatively clear, and in addition to a good many supporters, we saw a couple of drivers who definitely disapproved.

Tuesday December 6

Half a dozen in the first half-hour grew to ten or eleven at the end. A couple of participants described with enthusiasm the weekend model railroad open house, sponsored by the Corvallis Society of Model Engineers at the clubhouse in Adair Village. This is the last appearance for the current track layout. For the rest of us, maybe in 2012.

Monday, December 5

Cold fog: at least it is not raining - it would be warmer if it was.
 Moon was a ghostly glow.  Clock is back with accurate time and holiday carols.  Through  the hour - 13 people with some variations in the configurations.  A delicious buttery rich cookie treat came with two vigil-ers.

A young couple in white jeep pulled up to us.  The passenger, male, asked: "what does that mean?"  with a gesture to "END ALL MILITARY OCCUPATIONS".  The sign holder answered with a summation of the point.  The following comments from the young man were confounding:  "where would you be without that?" "my grandfather died for that." "can't you find anything better to do with your time?"  and several more "where would we be without that?"  He was in utter disbelief that there would still be a Corvallis or an Oregon or a nation we would recognize.
Later a driver in a passing car gestured with the back of his hand held toward us.  We speculate as to the meaning.  Is he Italian?

Sunday December 4

Six vigil-ers today. The courthouse clock has been restarted but not set, so we depend on a cell phone to mark the end of the hour.

Saturday December 3

Ten or eleven of us on a very cold afternoon. Even the hardiest sandal wearers had socks.

Friday, 2 December

The local Zonta Club had a candlelit vigil from 4:30 to 5:30 to mark the United Nations Day calling for  Abolishing Slavery.  As our 5 o'clock gathering time arrived and our peace signs came out the others moved to the North end of the courthouse block saying they didn't want passers-by to confuse the signs.  We puzzled that one between the four of us; did some one of their group not want to be associated with our signs?  I'd found one of our signs that said "No More Victims"; it seemed appropriate.  But we also said our usual : end all military occupations & veterans for peace & peace (in Chinese) .   We talked a bit about the global issue of slavery and human trafficking.  What role does the disruption of war play in increasing the incidence of children being preyed upon?  Is there increased sexual slavery in areas where we have military bases?
what with arrivals and departures we counted 6 for the hour - but the hour itself was poorly counted as the county turned the electricity off in the courthouse for repairs and the clock was stopped at 12:15.  It was as if one of the regulars was missing.

Wednesday November 30

Eight or nine of us through the hour. There were family visitors from Australia. And some discussion of organizing around climate change.