Friday, August 28, 2020

Black Lives Matter, But So Do Bathrooms

So Jennifer doesn't just inspire me to risk all on an eggplant/tofu experiment for my daughter's 18th birthday. She also inspires me to step outside my comfort zone to meet up with a group of strangers and walk several miles in support of Black Lives Matter. 

I had a lot of reasons not to do this: strangers, the uncertainty of bathroom availability, hot weather, did I mention strangers? But Jennifer's posts about Walk the Walk -- a march from Charlottesville, VA, to DC -- made it all seem possible, so Thursday morning I got up early, filled a water bottle, borrowed a backpack from Susie, and set out to join the group for that day's walk. 

This pack is made for walkin' - just, uh, not too far...

I chose one of the shorter days, because I'm no hero. It was 12 miles, which I thought sounded doable, because I walk a lot. But you know something? Even if you have been walking a total of 4 miles a day for forever (well, since March, which in these pandemic times feels like forever), you still may not be ready to walk 12 miles in extreme heat and humidity. 

When we stopped for lunch, I sat down to put some bandaids on my blisters and guzzle an entire bottle of water and then tried to stop feeling weird in the head (it was HOT). At that point, another woman my age said, "My husband's picking me up. You want a ride back?" 

Reader, I said yes. Even though I really liked walking with that group, I felt that they just didn't need to be having to carry me when I passed out around mile 9. It was hard to admit to myself that 12 miles might be a stretch, because I still picture myself as being 25 years younger and able to do just about anything. Remember? I was the one who thought I'd be fine a few years ago, traveling cross country on a train and sleeping sitting up in coach.

So my day ended up with my walking only 6 miles with a group of really nice individuals. Part of the time I carried a Black Lives Matter flag someone gave me to wave at passing motorists. I'm a hardcore activist now, people. I had a flag. The rest of the group chanted things, but I had to save my energy for breathing. And waving that flag.

The group finished their trek this morning, walking from Alexandria, VA, to DC to join up with the larger March on Washington. And I'm sitting here at home, newly humbled, listening to the speakers and looking at the crowds on YouTube and thinking, "How are all those people standing up for so long? And don't they have to pee?"

I have high aspirations, really I do! But reality seems to get in the way of implementing them.


14 comments:

  1. Hey ... 6 miles walking IN THE HEAT is great. And it was for a cause. AND you carried a flag. You go, girl.

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  2. You got out there - that totally counts!

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  3. Not sure I could have made it that far!!

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  4. Remember way back when...we did 20! We were crazy kids

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  5. Good for you getting out there

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  6. Congratulations on adding your voice (and your feet) to the cause.

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  7. I often think that people my age are 'older' and then I remember that, oh - I have been aging right along with them. You are not alone in that thought process of 'I think I am younger than I am mentality'. Four miles since the start of the pandemic IS a long ass time. Way to go on the many miles you did.

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  8. I think it's awesome that you participated.

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  9. Don't diminish what you did!!! Six miles in the heat, carrying water and a flag---Congratulations!!!

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  10. I had no idea you went --- THIS MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!!!! Long distance walking is a new experience for me, and it's REALLY hard. Don't feel bad for stopping early. At the end of one of the debriefings, the leaders praised both the people who walked the whole day AND those who stopped early and/or took breaks because they had the courage to take care of themselves. Just being there --- taking those steps --- is a huge deal. xoxoxo

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  11. You made it 5 1/2 miles longer than I could have!

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  12. I think it's awesome that you stepped out and walked. It's tough to walk all day and definitely easier to sit inside and quietly advocate.
    YOU MARCHED!

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  13. I'm really impressed! I'm attending a masked, anti-racism, outdoor event on Friday. It won't be hot, but I know that I can't stand for 2 hours so I'm bringing a chair with me. As Green Girl wrote, it's definitely easier to sit inside and quietly advocate (Zoom is my fallback plan) so I'm extra impressed that you were out there waving the flag. HUZZAH!

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