My Women's March on Washington

The day began at 0:dark:30, as over a hundred of us from the Community Church of Chapel Hill--piled into two buses and hit the road.  Here I am with my bus buddy, Deborah Klinger.  Too dark to take photos--but we are fired up and ready to go!

On the way up, we viewed pictures of huge crowds of women around the world---RISING UP!  Places where protests had already happened or were just beginning--Sydney and Tokyo, Paris and Prague.  We scrolled through pictures on the Women's March app and Pantsuit Nation--showing plane loads, carloads and busloads of protesters from all around the country, making their way to DC in pink pussyhats-- just like us. Such solidarity!

We made pretty good time getting up to DC, and our bus let us off at one of the outermost Metro stations--which was fortunate, because we learned later that this is the only reason we were all able to board the trains.  Our train was absolutely jam packed--and a sea of pink!  And no one else could get on at some of our stops.

On the Metro--a sea of pink pussy hats!

It was 10AM when we boarded the Metro, but it took us an hour and a half to get downtown!   The conductor kept saying "The train will move momentarily"--which soon became a laugh line, as we crawled along in fits and starts.  Fortunately, everyone was good humored and friendly.

At  11:30 when we finally arrived at L'Enfant Plaza, we could barely move when we stepped off the train.  This was not an experience I'd recommend to claustrophobics!  It was stuffy and so crowded we just inched along.

It was  a relief when we could finally see the light of day!  All the escalators in the city were turned off to accommodate the endless waves of people.

Finally we made it out to the streets!

We squeezed along, through the throngs.  Lots of colorful and creative signs!

Patty Hanneman and I stuck together through thick and thin (but mostly THICK!)

We tried to inch closer so we could hear the speakers and see the screens, but moving was pretty futile.  Basically you are just squished in!  We heard some inspirational and fiery speeches from Ashley Judd, Janelle Morae, Alicia Keys, Scarlett Johansson, as well as many lesser known people--who were involved with the march.

This is what it looks like, when you're a short person in a huge crowd, can barely see anything,

and can't move.  The amazing things was that everyone was so polite and accommodating  "Excuse me, I'm sorry.  Can I get by please?" were heard frequently, as people attempted to maneuver through the crowds.  Somehow we managed to part the seas to let a wheelchair through.  Getting to a bathroom was pretty much impossible.  There was no cell service and no internet.  But everyone was SO tolerant and friendly!
 

                                            There was such color, humor and fun all around us!

       After 2.5 hours of standing squished in, unable to move and hearing speeches by people from every possible minority group, the crowd was ready to move and people began to chant "March! March! March!".   The march was slated to begin at 1:15--but it was already 2:30 and there was no end in sight to the squished-in standing and listening to speeches.

Patty and I were a little anxious because we had been told to be back at our metro stop between 4-5--and we thought it could take us two hours to get back!  We had hoped to march, but we weren't sure it was going to happen in time, and we needed some relief from the claustrophobic, crowded conditions.

 We finally made it to a side street where the crowd was thinner.   Immediately, the mood changed.  There was room to walk!  Many people had left the main rally, as we had-- seeking relief-- and had taken over the side streets marching and chanting.  This was much more festive and fun!  Although I still couldn't get a very good perspective for taking photos.

 Because the original march route was so jam packed with people, the actual march-- as it was planned-- didn't  happen. People were making their way, as we were, down side streets towards the Washington Monument.  I wish we had been able to stay longer, and walk more.  I wish we had made it to the Monument.  I wish we had gotten to hear Madonna.  Logistics demanded that we leave early to get back to our bus.

However, despite weariness and discomfort from standing in a close crowd for hours, and needing to pee-- my overwhelming feeling from the day is that I was SO proud to be in that number!

I  feel so heartened, exhilarated and inspired from being in this amazing crowd of people from all over the country!

Pictures of women's genitalia and ovaries were everywhere, along with signs like "Viva La Vulva!"  I was a little shocked at first, but it dawned on me that this is very important.  For too long, women have been ashamed of our "private parts". We have been groped and grabbed and raped.  We have been harassed,  belittled, mansplained to and marginalized. We have been passed over for promotions.  The private is now public, and what was once our shame is now our power!

 On the way home, we learned:  1,000,000 in DC  500,000 in LA  400,000 in NYC  250,000 in Chi

175,000 in Bos  150,000 in Den  130,000 in Sea  75,000 in Madison

We saw pictures our friends had posted of the huge rally in Raleigh back home.  We saw pictures from around the world--from Asheville to Amsterdam to Antarctica.

It's a great day in the herstory of the world!  The love revolution has begun!  Trump was the catalyst, but now we know the real power belongs to us--with women at the helm!