That Was a LONG Tomorrow - Now More March

Mommy and her FRIENDS got to the march very very early and as a result, they STOOD for over 5 hours before organizers started the march. The truth was there were so many people (500,000) that it took a long long LONG time for the streets to clear enough for anyone to move. PLUS, by being so close to the stage they were more at the rear of the march than at the front. That means they had a good seat for the "show" and were lucky enough to see   Cecile Richards, president, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Erika Andiola, activist, Ilyasah Shabazz, activist, J. Bob Alotta, activist and filmmaker, Janet Mock, activist, writer, and television host, LaDonna Harris, activist, Maryum Ali, activist, Melanie Campbell, activist, Rabbi Sharon Brous, Rhea Suh, activist, Sister Simone Campbell, attorney, Sophie Cruz, activist, Zahra Billoo, activist, America Ferrera, actress, Angela Davis, activist, scholar, author, Gloria Steinem, activist, Ashley Judd, actress and activist, Scarlett Johansson, actress, Melissa Harris-Perry, television host, Michael Moore, filmmaker, Amanda Nguyen, activist, Randi Weingarten, attorney, Van Jones, television host, George Gresham, activist, Mothers of the Movement (Sybrina Fulton, Lucia McBath, Maria Hamilton, Gwen Carr), activists, Hina Naveed, activist, Judith Le Blanc (Caddo), activist, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, author and activist, Aida Hurtado, psychologist, Melissa Mays, activist, Raquel Willis, activist and writer, Rosyln Brock, activist, Sister Ieasha Prime, activist, The Honorable Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington, D.C., Ai-jen Poo, activist, Wendy Carrillo, activist, Dr. Cynthia Hale, pastor, Tamika Mallory, Carmen Perez, Linda Sarsour, Bob Bland, Women’s March co-chairs . . . AND performers/special guests Alicia Keys (a real surprise), Janelle Monae, Kamala Harris (Mommy was so thrilled that her HOME STATE and her home REGION was so well represented at the March), Maxwell, Madonna, Indigo Girls.

But the performers and speakers were NOT what the march was all about and after standing for over 5 hours, Mommy and everyone else was anxious to MARCH.

So they did.

FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND strong marched and raised their voices in protest of the assault on women's rights, immigrants' rights, and so on. Yes, there were anti-Trump protests as well. It was a VENUE - a PLATFORM for speaking your mind and expressing disappointment in the policies being put forth by the elected representatives and the president.

It was so important to Mommy to use her FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. If you don't SPEAK UP - no one will hear you.

The next day she went SIGHTSEEING around Washington with Auntie D. Wasn't it cool that they were BOTH there? They saw the Hall of Portraits and wandered to the MALL. Unfortunately this is ALL they saw of the White House. I guess our new President was not feeling too happy or something because fences were up and guards were all over. And she said they indicated it was to take down the stands erected for the Inauguration. . . BUT no one was actually doing that.

 Mommy was kinda disappointed. The White House belongs to ALL of us and she wanted to see it. Maybe next time.

Her trip to D.C. was pretty much over BUT BEFORE she came home she hopped an AMTRAK train and headed SOUTH to see friends of ours who had moved. You might remember me talking about them in 2015 when I stayed at their house while Mommy traveled to San Diego. WELL. . .. they moved to North Carolina and Mommy was very excited to see them. She stayed 4 days and played a lot with their 8 month old GSD puppy, Ruskin Roy. Isn't he adorable?

After enjoying the hospitality of North Carolina for a few days, she finally made her way back to me. I was soooooooooo HAPPY to see her.