Up at 4:35 a.m. telling myself there must be a legitimate reason not to go to NYC. Took a shower with Roger the Cat whinging outside the door. Still looking for an excuse. Dressed, fed the little fekker, gathered the stuff I had already carefully organized and forced myself into the car. 40 minute drive to New Haven and got on the 6:36 a.m. to the City.
Ok, what are the odds? I think it was in Fairfield a woman got on with her two adorable kids. She stashed the kids in the available seats next to mine and sat next to me. I don’t generally talk on trains or planes but she asked me if I were going to the March. Pussy hat in my lap was a dead give away. Chat, chat, chat and she tells me she’s a documentarian and doing a piece on an art exhibit (I missed) on magic eye mosaics where folks in the march can write their names on bits of mosaic. I have to find a picture because it is gorgeous.
Ok, short story long — I tell her I’m hoping to find an online friend who is a professor at a photo school in NYC. She says: “SVA?” (School for Visual Arts). Well yes, I say since the online name is the same as the real name. She looks our Kossack up on her sheet and says that’s who is filming their documentary!!!! What the hell are the odds????? So we talked about what the hell are the odds for most of the trip in.
I know my subways so get over to 72nd Street on the #2 line — the C line — right on the dot was shut down for construction. Short walk on the long blocks and it was only 9 a.m. Walked down to 61st and back because everyone was going towards 72nd the designated entrance. Then a volunteer said — hell — go down towards 61st (probably get to 63rd) because that’s where the rally is. Anyone have a fitbit? Mine buzzed the 10k steps at some point today.
So, noweasels got info that the March was 50 blocks. belinda ridgewood confirmed that 20 short blocks in NYC equals a mile. That means the March went from Central Park West southish up towards Harlem / Columbia.
Here’s my pics — so sunny I had to delete a number of them because they sucked.
She was adorable and really happy — like the rest of the group.
Sign says “We the People Means Everyone.”
I love their signs. One of their group was trying to take a picture and couldn’t figure out the camera. I told them I was taking it and would see them in the same spot next year.
BEST SIGNS I SAW — ALL PAINTED BY THE SAME WOMAN IN A GROUP OF FUN WOMEN AROUND MY AGE:
Adorable baby with very wonderful and pleased parents. For some reason, this kid kept looking at me whilst being cajoled by other photogs. I’m a baby whisperer (then I put them in closets and throw in raw meat).
I’m including the following blurry picture which I tried to take multiple times. The woman in the wheel chair had no relation to the doggie in the baby carriage — one of those serendipitous moments that was really wonderful. I’m sad the pic is not great but the memory will last nonetheless.
A fragment of the thousands who lined the route but weren’t marching but still supporting.
Sunlight issue. Our Rosy the Riviter. That outfit had to be homemade. She was adorable and with her tiny friends kept the “We need a leader, not a creepy tweeter” chant going.
I know many thought the wind was out of our sails — no fucking way.
Very happy day. Hoping the old legs hold up for next year. I’m ignoring the news morans because they weren’t IN the crowds across the nation — they were reporting more than last year.
Final observance. Last year there were photographers but nothing like today in NYC — besides constantly taking pictures during the interminable rally — the outlets were set up at the rally site — you’d think it was coronation day. Very excellent along with folks being able to shout nasty stuff and give the finger to Faux on 6th as we marched by.
I’m wiped out and may not be able to stay up much longer. Just wanted to post pics and say Oh, Happy Day!