The End of the Road
The next day was a day off (that’s approximately number 4, if you’re keeping track). Rob and I spent most of the day with Kerry. We hit the Met to see some ancient Egypt stuff and some ancient MezoAmerica stuff and some other stuff, possibly ancient. Over lunch at Chipotle we randomly ran into some executives from McDonald’s. That was weird. We moseyed down to the Museum of Sex, but found it was too expensive to be worth it, so just hung out in the gift shop. I found an awesome magnet that is a bit R-rated and has my name on it. Very exciting. Then it was off to the Staten Island Ferry so we could ogle the Statue of Liberty. I fell asleep on the way back. Our last stop was “Toys in Babeland”, which I’ve always wanted to go to. Good times. I learned a lot.
Then it was back to the church. I was very sleepy, and ended up passing out til about 8 o’clock, when I had just enough energy to stumble out and find a bagel with lox before crashing for the night. I did miss going out on the town, but I figured it was better to fall asleep in a church than on the subway.
The next day we took the last ride on the BGB, down to DC. We stopped on the way in Philadelphia at an LGBT youth drop-in center called The Attic. They gave us lunch and we were able to walk around a little. We went down the street to a different center that had free copies of The Advocate which we shamelessly stocked up on.
We got to DC just in time for Robin and me to help take everything off the bus (it was chartered for the next day) and meet up with Laura and Quinn and their boys for a lovely night of couples bowling in the Maryland suburbs. It was a great time.
Saturday and Sunday we spent doing various chores (making sure everyone had everyone’s contact info, filling out evaluations, writing postcards, and signing pictures to auction off. I’m not even kidding people) and having group bonding time. We took a couple of hours and stripped the wrap off the bus. That was actually pretty fun, though I was not the one hanging over the edge of the top to get the last bits off. I have some pieces I’m hoping to make into little bags or wallets to give to everyone, but we’ll have to see when that actually happens. I led the group in a craft project so we’d each have books for other people to write in. That went really well and turned out to be a wonderful keepsake. I got to see my grandma Saturday night, and catch up with Jocelyn and Adam and Cora and Kristin Sunday morning while other people were at church. It was totally awesome to see everyone before they all scatter to the winds.
Sunday night we had kind of a sharing circle, where everyone got to go around and say whatever they had to say to the group. It was actually my idea, based on Champagne Party in Georgetown Theatre, only a lot more coherent and a lot less vomitous. It was really nice to be able to all come together and hear each other as a group for one last time. Of course, we ended by singing Om Shanti. I think everyone cried a little, but there was also a tremendous drive to keep this energy going and continue what we started. I have high hopes for the future.
To quote Peter, Paul, and Mary: “I will not turn my head, I will not close my heart, I will not still my hands, until my work is done.”
So, the bus may have stopped but the Ride goes on. Although I do not think I will spend my life with this particular issue, I have been inspired to continue grassroots activism dialogue and community building wherever possible. I have already spoken to a lot of you about my plans for the future, and I will try to keep this blog updated as my adventures continue.
Thank you for all your love and support
Then it was back to the church. I was very sleepy, and ended up passing out til about 8 o’clock, when I had just enough energy to stumble out and find a bagel with lox before crashing for the night. I did miss going out on the town, but I figured it was better to fall asleep in a church than on the subway.
The next day we took the last ride on the BGB, down to DC. We stopped on the way in Philadelphia at an LGBT youth drop-in center called The Attic. They gave us lunch and we were able to walk around a little. We went down the street to a different center that had free copies of The Advocate which we shamelessly stocked up on.
We got to DC just in time for Robin and me to help take everything off the bus (it was chartered for the next day) and meet up with Laura and Quinn and their boys for a lovely night of couples bowling in the Maryland suburbs. It was a great time.
Saturday and Sunday we spent doing various chores (making sure everyone had everyone’s contact info, filling out evaluations, writing postcards, and signing pictures to auction off. I’m not even kidding people) and having group bonding time. We took a couple of hours and stripped the wrap off the bus. That was actually pretty fun, though I was not the one hanging over the edge of the top to get the last bits off. I have some pieces I’m hoping to make into little bags or wallets to give to everyone, but we’ll have to see when that actually happens. I led the group in a craft project so we’d each have books for other people to write in. That went really well and turned out to be a wonderful keepsake. I got to see my grandma Saturday night, and catch up with Jocelyn and Adam and Cora and Kristin Sunday morning while other people were at church. It was totally awesome to see everyone before they all scatter to the winds.
Sunday night we had kind of a sharing circle, where everyone got to go around and say whatever they had to say to the group. It was actually my idea, based on Champagne Party in Georgetown Theatre, only a lot more coherent and a lot less vomitous. It was really nice to be able to all come together and hear each other as a group for one last time. Of course, we ended by singing Om Shanti. I think everyone cried a little, but there was also a tremendous drive to keep this energy going and continue what we started. I have high hopes for the future.
To quote Peter, Paul, and Mary: “I will not turn my head, I will not close my heart, I will not still my hands, until my work is done.”
So, the bus may have stopped but the Ride goes on. Although I do not think I will spend my life with this particular issue, I have been inspired to continue grassroots activism dialogue and community building wherever possible. I have already spoken to a lot of you about my plans for the future, and I will try to keep this blog updated as my adventures continue.
Thank you for all your love and support
posted by Di at 7:51 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home