Sunday November 13

A man who only recently began joining the vigil chose to celebrate his 31st birthday today by posting an invitation on his Facebook page. So the hour was an invigorating mix of "old regulars", many of whom do not have a Facebook identity, and hip younger folks. Is "hip" even the right slang nowadays? We all enjoyed being and witnessing together.

Saturday, 12 November

Still here despite the portentous 11/11/11 with various dooms foretold.  It seems there is enough everyday doom -what with the ongoing wars and all manner of nefarious political posturing.   6 this Saturday night in the dark rain.  Many friendly toots and headlight flashes.  These are the nights it feels particularly important to stand the hour - with winter's darkness closing in and the blusters of rain squalling about.

Friday, November 11

Darkness is again part of the vigil.  It is harder to see the people who wave as they pass us.  With this visual  uncertainty we can choose to declare all gestures to be affirmative for the cause of peace.  A man with a 99% sign joined us for the hour after giving the afternoon to standing at Bank of America in the spirit of the growing Occupy movement.  11 for most of the mostly wet hour.  We heard about the annual veterans day parade in Albany - which included a contingent of nuclear test site veterans.  A young man offered us the 1/4 sheet flyers that VFP passed out - giving the Armistice Day history of the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918,  as the end of that "war to end all wars".   Here we are 93 years later with a deep habit of war as a fact of our national policy.

Thursday November 10

Only one vigil-er to start the hour, but folks trickled in until there were seven of us at 6:00PM. One interesting conversation was about people's strong reactions to traffic roundabouts, in particular the proposed roundabout at SW 53rd Street and Western Boulevard, as opposed to stoplights and stop signs.

Wednesday November 9

Half a dozen to ten people throughout the hour. An account of a 21-year every-Friday peace vigil in Concord, Massachusetts; encounters with coyotes in Corvallis and in New York's Central Park; discussion of whether there will be any effective response to climate change -- we do not lack for things to talk about. It is easier to talk when the weather is dry than in the rain. :)

Tuesday November 8

Only two at 5:00PM, about eight at the end of the hour. A faithful long-time supporter stopped to give us a sliced loaf of banana bread. We are appreciative and thankful.

Monday November 7

No rain today. Four or five at 5:00PM, a few people coming and going throughout the hour, seven of us at 6:00. On Sunday the time changed from Daylight Savings Time to Standard Time, and now we mostly cannot see the people driving by, so that now the vigil's interaction with passersby feels much different.