Today, I did something I never, ever thought I would do or need to do—I stood alongside other seniors protesting the many injustices and stupidities of the current administration, which includes 47 and his sidekick oligarch. We stood or sat at the intersection of California and Admiral in West Seattle, and I did my best to hold up my yard flag while still keeping a grip on my cane and endured cramps in my feet, which were also protesting (standing for an hour+).

I was inspired to show up by Senator Cory Booker’s heroic 25+ hour speech on the Senate floor. It was not only physically heroic (he stopped eating on Friday and drinking on Sunday to hold the floor for as long as possible), but it was also mind-blowingly educational, and the spiritual energy was off the charts. I was riveted and managed to catch most of it. My cats also caught some of it since I carried the laptop with me for feeding time. And when I put it down in the back room where fosters Noctua and Sadiya stay, they rushed up to it and sat down in front of the screen. I witnessed them watch intently for almost three minutes as they tried to figure out what was happening. I would like to believe that they were “Cats for Cory and Democracy,” but my animal communicator self felt them hoping that Bird TV would be appearing soon (-:

I didn’t plan to go to the HandsOff protest at the Seattle Center because a large protest would have been more than my body could handle. But when I discovered there would be a small protest that I could walk to, organized by folks in the nearby retirement community, I knew I would never forgive myself if I did not show up to protect democracy.

I didn’t have a sign, so I took my “No Kings” yard flag down and brought it along to “Old Tyme Adults for Democracy,” organized by residents at Brookdale Senior Living. I was humbled to see that quite a few of the protestors had walkers. If they could do this, then so could I!

I had a few reflections while standing there.

First was my personal take on a sign I had seen on social media, which said: “You know it’s really bad when the introverts show up.” Yep. I am a relatively quiet animal person who does not revel in being seen by a lot of people but this is not just a national constitutional crisis (which is bad enough), the “policies” and tariffs are having a disastrous impact globally.

It was a lot. Horns were blaring from all sides as the people who drove by announced their solidarity, thumbs up, and cheers. There were also some jeers—not everyone supported. At least one person gave us the finger. A Cybertruck ended up paused at the light, and most of us ignored the driver. He (an assumption on my part) revved his engine to a roar, but from what I could see, no one did more than laugh.

There was a photographer there from the West Seattle Blog, so there are much better photos here (and my little sign and I are in one of them, lol).

I loved seeing more and more people show up to join us, some from the larger demonstration in the West Seattle Junction.

One gentleman was loud and proud in voicing his determination—his enthusiasm was heartening and livened me up a bit.

Another woman quietly beat a tribal drum while everyone held their signs as high as possible, waving at those who honked in support. Some seniors held up their signs while seated on the park bench. I was impressed by the sign one woman held—she used her grabber (the thing you use to bring something down from a high shelf that you can’t reach) as the handle/post for the sign (you can see it in one of the photos). I complimented her ingenuity and told her it was wonderfully symbolic of dragging 47 off his high horse.

I met organizer Jean, who said that the park bench was great for folks who could not stand long. She asked about me and what I did, celebrated my work, and shared that her husband had been a photographer and that it was awful what 47 was doing to the Arts, among other things. She asked if I had made my cane, I told her no, that I had bought it years before at an antiques store long before I ever thought I would need it. I admired her spunk when she pointed at her walker and said she never thought she would need one either, but that at least it helped her get around.

The moment that may stick with me the most is something I witnessed in a car opposite me that was stopped for the light. The windows were open, and I saw two kids in the back seat. I noticed they were looking at us, so I waved. They asked their mom to read what the signs said to them and explain them. Mom read the first one: “Save our Social Security” and said that one might be hard to explain. Next, she read out my “No Kings” sign, and the light changed, so I have no idea what happened afterward, but I would like to believe that there was some discussion of why protecting freedom and caring for others is important and worth standing up for. Ultimately, that is why I went, and if there is another protest, I will show up to do my part if I can.

I am so grateful for everyone who showed up today to protect democracy and each other. We can do this!

Postscript: I was in quite a bit of pain by the time I got home, but it was pain for a good cause and good trouble! And I arrived home to discover that my first tulip had bloomed, which I took as another good sign (-:

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A WILD WAY TO HEAL
Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC is an animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic energy healer, and author of Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism and Out of the Darkness and Other Animal Tails. Her classes, sessions, and ceremonial work are inspired by wild and domestic animals who have issued a call to action for personal and global healing.