Lost in the Waving of Signs on a Street Corner

Daily writing prompt

What activities do you lose yourself in?

View all responses

This morning at the sign protest, a woman walked up to us wearing a button that said Minnesota – Pretti Good. She said she was visiting Milwaukee and came out to thank us for holding our anti-ICE, pro-immigrant, anti-war, pro-peace, anti-lawlessness, pro-Constitution signs at one of the busiest intersections in the county. She hugged each one of us and we talked about Minneapolis’ leadership and how much we admired and appreciated their resilience in protecting their communities and helping their neighbors.

We do our sign protest every Saturday, 10-11:30. All four corners, each side of each corner, so eight groups of people. I am part of the southeast corner of 76th and Layton crew. We hold our signs and chat during the red light and then when the green left turn signal comes on, we hold our signs up high and wave. And smile. Oh, the power of a smile is awesome. Then when the eastbound traffic comes, we redouble our efforts, relaxing only at the red light. Then maybe we do little dances to the music coming from somebody’s boombox across six lanes of traffic on the opposite corner.

I like to yell at the county buses, “We love the county buses.” I also like to stick my tongue out or blow kisses at people who give me the finger, but only after they’ve passed. I had somebody roll up in front of me a few years ago, get out of the car, and spit on me so I make sure grumpy people are well on their way before expressing myself.

A more refined or cerebral person would have a productive hobby or meditate. Do yoga or knit. I stand around on Saturday with a bunch of other old people who are holding signs, waving, and making wisecracks. It’s like going to church, just going someplace to be with other people and letting go of all of it. And right now, all of it is an unbelievably heavy load of craziness, injustice, violence, and immorality.

After the sign waving and the respite it provides is the work, whatever the work is that week – the calls, the letters, the meetings, the showing up. Nothing heroic but always something. Little tiny cog in what I hope is a big wheel and grateful for my sign sisters and brothers. Missed the woman who usually shows up with donuts, though. That pushes the Zen of sign waving to a whole new level.