My friend, Dr. Marilyn Susman celebrated the 99th birthday of her mother, Helen Epstein, in Palm Beach. “We walked around the pond at Brookdale.” Marilyn said. “Other residents were at their windows or outside cheering us on.” Happy Birthday, Mrs. Epstein.
Democracy is messy. We Americans have inaugurated presidents since April 30, 1789, when George Washington took his oath at Federal Hall in New York City. Last week Donald Trump became our 45th president. A week-long celebration by his supporters in Washington DC was exciting. Jubilation reigned. Winning is fun.
Women’s March for Human Rights 2017, San Luis Obispo
However, on the next day American women grabbed the reins. LightsonBrightNoBrakes is not only devoted to food but, more importantly, to the lifestyle I’ve created after losing my husband. Today’s post is about my participation in that historic Women’s March 2017.
Since the early birds gets a parking space, I arrived in SLO very early before the March. These three women invited me to join them for breakfast. Thank you, Janice
Everything about this day was perfect, uplifting and peaceful. While being my own one-man band in San Luis Obispo, I spent the day surrounded by a lifetime of friends, thanks to the miraculous magic of my iPhone.
FRENCH FRIDAYS with DORIE, the DORISTA’S, my cooking colleagues from around the world, were marching. Dorie Greenspan, our mentor and friend, marched in Paris. I also got March On-messages from Emily in Khala Lumpur, Andrea in Bonn, Adriana in Puerto Rico, Trevor in Thailand and many America gals.
Betsy (C), an administrator with me on FFWD and CtBF, was in Boston with 175,000 of her best friends.
Teresa, who virtually walked through the last year with me, is from Vancouver.
Alaia rode while her dad, Marcel, and Katie, the administrator of CtBF’s and UCSB professor marched.
Another Dorista, Rose in Frankfurt, Germany
PLAN 1: After the election I read about a possible January 21st Woman’s March in Washington. Undecided but curious I booked a flight and reserved a room at Club Quarters Hotel located two blocks from the White House. In late December after reading about inauguration security concerns, I had second thoughts. Worst case scenario: my son-in-law flying across the country to settle civil disobedience charges against his mother-in-law. I bailed!
ASPEN – SKI/FLASH MOB/MARCH
Donna Grauer and many of my other friends skied down Aspen Mountain as part of the March.
My longtime Aspen neighbor, Blanca, was in San Miguel de Allende. During the March, her husband, Cav, linked me to her and friends in Vail and Aspen.
PLAN 2: In early January I noticed San Luis Obisbo, located 35 miles from Cambria, was holding a Sister March. I signed up. Since I would be alone, I began to “customize” my Women’s March, owning it, so to speak. I contacted friends, inquiring about their participation and, like the march itself, the numbers kept growing.
MANCHESTER, FRIENDS from MY HOMETOWN
My Manchester friend of 60 years, Judy Sweet (L), marched in San Diego.
Our Manhawk Student Body President, Judy Miller, couldn’t march so her sweet daughter, Sarah, joined the Iowa March in Des Moines.
One of the really good guys from the Class of ’62, Jim Goodwin, marched with his sister, Kris, in Sonoma.
On January 21st, I joined a visual friendship circle strung together on social media and physically lined up with some 8,000 to 9,000 marchers in SLO. I realized, as the day progressed, I was participating in the largest organized march of protest in American history. To date, about 3.3 million people participated in 408 marches in 500 American cities. Worldwide participation included 168 cities in 81 countries and on every continent bringing our number close to 4.8 million. Only women could pull together an event of that magnitude in just two months.
A Familiar Sign – Me, too.
Museums Worldwide including some Smithsonian Museums, Are Collecting and archiving Women’s March Posters and memorabilia.
Do I believe this March will encourage policy changes or compromises by the Republican Trump administration? When Pigs Fly. (In a Word, No.)
But, “Just as plants need sun, water, and good soil to thrive, people need love, work, and a connection to something larger.” The Happiness Hypothesis, Jonathan Haidt
The Womens March for Human Rights 2017 was my something larger.
Laughter is the best Medicine. My Favorite Sign.
Wonderful inspiring blog.
You have the BEST friends !
I also love that sign about pissing off so many women. Though I continue to love “I have seen smarter cabinets at IKEA@
Thanks for sharing the photos of your friends (and mine) marching. I feel the solidarity with you, Mary. I wrote letters to my senators and representative today. Someone needs to stop the insanity.
Ah! I see now why you wanted a photo! What a great day that was and how amazing that everyone was peaceful and just banding together in the face of utter crappiness. It’s like Aziz Ansari said, “change doesn’t come from presidents. Change comes from large groups of angry people, and if Day One is any indication, you are part of the largest group of angry people I’ve ever seen!” Damn straight.
Inspiring Mary. Great stuff. And you have great friends.
I also love your favorite poster about how could the Donald have pissed off so many women.
..but I am also enamored by another poster not herein…”I have seen smarter cabinets at IKEA”
I am so proud of you, Mary, of you and all of your friends. Since I have difficulty walking more than around the grocery store due to joint issues, I knew the March was out of the question to do, but I watched and applauded from home. I am writing letters, my mouth is not silent. Good work, dear friend.
Mary and friends,
I admire your coming together to march but as a “deplorable” Trump voter I have to say, I was appalled watching Madonna and Ms. Judd make complete fools of themselves with their screeching and disgusting language. I know Madonna’s father and stepmother. They are wonderful decent people and believe me they are embarrassed by her antics, especially when there were so many children in attendance. Many of the signs and costumes I saw were offensive and as far as I could see did not further the womens’ cause at all. This was advertised as an inclusive march for all women but from every report I’ve seen, it was only inclusive if you were pro-abortion, liberal and a Trump hater. Pro life groups were prevented from registering on the website. (True) Yes, I agree though, the much smaller local marches for the most part were peaceful.
I would respectfully suggest, as a Republican voter, that you take a deep breath, accept that in elections there are winners and losers, and allow President Trump to govern.
Just a parting thought..when you condemn Mr Trump for something he said 25 yrs ago in private to another man and as a private citizen and unfortunately resulted in thousands of those awful pink p***y hats, please remember that Bill Clinton, whom I assume you voted for twice assaulted, raped and ultimately paid $60,000.00 to at least 1 woman, although others have come forward, was impeached for lying under oath, and ruined the lives of at least 6 more women including a 19 yr old aid while in office. Hypocritical?
Thanks for letting me express my opinion. Tomorrow there is a Right to Life march in Washington. Hopefully it will get as much media attention as last weeks march, but I doubt it.
May God bless All women..and men.
Mary, what a wonderful, uplifting and hopeful post after what con only be described as a GRIM week. Thanks for posting this ray of hope!
Thank you Marti,
I’m just so tired of all the vicious Trump-bashing and felt I had to finally speak out for the other side. As Past President Obama said early in his presidency, “Elections have consequences.” Let’s all take a deep breath and at least give President Trump a chance. He’s a doer, not a politician so he’s bound to say things and phrase his words in a less than liberal politically correct way. He may say and do things that Democrats don’t like but Obama did and said many many things that the Republicans didn’t like in his long 8 years in office. How about giving our side a chance now. That’s what our Republic is all about.
God Protect our unborn children.
Mary Fuscaldo, Mardi, a Canadian, is a longtime friend of mine, and was actually making that comment to me about my post. I am pleased she saw my post about the march as wonderful, uplifting and hopeful. I am very happy, however, to read your comments any time you wish to post them and have always appreciated your loyalty to my blog . I am not going to use this blog to engage in political discussions. This was a post about a very important day in my Life surrounded virtually by like-minded friends. It was a joy to write. Mary Hirsch
But Mary,
The comments above from your followers became very political. That was what I was responding to. I’m frankly tired of all the Trump bashing from the moment he decided to run for president. He has as much right as anyone to participate in our Republic and deserves the respect of his office. He isn’t a polished politician like Obama was. He says what he feels and sometimes it doesn’t translate in the politically correct way the liberals demand. But please everyone reading this who obviously disagree with me, give the man a chance. That’s all we ask.
I love seeing how so many of our friends from across the globe came together to celebrate women. The Doristas were well represented!!