When I talk to people and they ask me where do you live, my response is always, house in Woodstock, apartment in Brooklyn. The reluctance to let go of Brooklyn as my official place, because I do so love me some Brooklyn, is puzzling to me somewhat, yet, Saturday I was pleasantly surprised by my feelings about how much Woodstock has become my home.
A dear friend emailed me about whether or not I would be attending the “march” in Woodstock. First I was taken aback that there would be anything organized up here and secondly, I figured that if there was something going on here, more than likely the attendance would be perhaps 30 people. I have lost count of the Sundays where I’ve driven by the Village Green to see the lone woman from Families for Peace, standing, holding one end of her colorful sign made from a bedsheet with the other end tied to the tree. And every time witnessing her solitary acknowledgment for peace, I would vow to myself that one of these Sundays I’m going to park and go stand with her.
OK back on track…..I got to thinking, a women’s march and rally in Woodstock is ideal. If I could march here instead of traveling all the way to Brooklyn where we would eventually end up in Manhattan, this would definitely save me time while showing solidarity. I had long discarded the idea of going to Washington, DC. cost, time, distance all the things that would make even an active activist hesitate.
Out of curiosity, I clicked on the link she provided for me and found out that there were women marches happening all over the world and not just mobilizing on a large scale such as Washington, DC; New York City; San Francisco, but they were also being organized in smaller more remote areas. How brilliant and exhilarating! If the mountain won’t come to Mohammed……The point of these marches is to mobilize wherever you can and to show unity no matter where you are in the world, right? So thus my decision was made and I prepared to attend believing that at least 30 of us Peaceniks living here would show up.
I DID NOT EXPECT the turnout!!! There were hundreds of people. Women and men of all ages, children, babies, young and old, carrying signs….They were marching together, singing songs, playing instruments, talking and reminiscing about the days when they rallied in this exact town or other rallies and marches. And those pink hats. I’ve never been a fan of pink, but now, well let’s just say, I’m picking out the yarn for my new pink hat, knit a few to keep on hand cause something tells me, I’m gonna need it.
Experiencing the day, I met many new people. I ran into new acquaintances and people that I’ve known since I first moved here. We talked, laughed and recalled events in our lives together and it was that moment that I came to the understanding why I live in Woodstock. What was the thing about it that made me feel that it was my home? I really can’t put my finger on it exactly but there is a saying that Austin, Texas coin, you can find it on the t-shirts that Book People use to carry in their store – Keep Austin Weird, well Woodstock has a saying, Relax, they’ll never find you here. I think we should add another slogan and have one that says, Yep….you’re in Woodstock.
