Thursday, August 30

Solitary me with my hand raised with the 'peace sign' to start the hour.  Time passed. A car pulled up, window lowered to ask for directions.  Directions given.  "what's with the peace sign?" driver asked me.  I gave the vigil spiel: "everyday- 5 to 6 - since october 2001".  "Everyday?"  Well, yes, someone is here everyday, today maybe just me. They drove on & I pondered how would it be to stand alone, signless for an hour.
I did not find out for shortly thereafter signs arrived.  Two of us for considerable time.six for the balance of the hour - with a 7th with us briefly.

Wednesday August 29

One person to start the hour, soon joined by two or three more, then even more until there were eight at 6:00PM. Again some strongly felt opposition in the midst of generally supportive honks and gestures.

Tuesday August 28

Three or four people at the beginning, maybe ten at the end. We had a special visitor, a state representative from Texas. He was passing through and heard about the vigil from a Corvallis friend, and he stopped to hold a sign with us for a few minutes. Optimism about Texas sentiment for change disappeared when someone asked him about the political situation in Texas; he responded that it is even worse than you imagine. :(

Sunday August 26

Five people at the beginning, one by one three more people trickled in, so that there were eight at the end. It was cool for August, but still the breeze felt good.

Saturday August 25

Three of at 5:00PM, about eight at 6:00. A family reunion for one of our regular participants swelled our numbers and brought the welcome enthusiasm and games of young folks. :)

Friday August 24

Three at the start, people came and left throughout the vigil, five at the end. Most of us signed the "health care is a human right" petition being circulated by Health Care for All Oregon.

Thursday August 23

Three at 5:00PM, five of us to end the hour. Halfway through a truck pulled over in front of us, to return a sign "ARE WE SAFE YET?" which got left behind Wednesday evening. Thanks! :) Later a couple of us wondered about Derrick Jensen's provocative attack on industrial civilization in his book Endgame.