Protests and Potatoes
As of Friday night, we planned to wake up on Saturday and make a decision about the No Kings demonstrations happening in our area. We both were leaning toward not going at all. My leg was still hurting, so the downtown event was already out.
“I feel like I would only go because I should go,” Jon said, and I nodded my head, adding, “I need to prioritize my rest and healing.”
Waking to the news of the terrorist attack in Minnesota that took the lives of Melissa and Mark Hortman and seriously injured John and Yvette Hoffman immediately changed our minds. Taking action was now a bigger priority. And yes, I said “terrorist attack”. MAGA is a terrorist organization.
“Let’s just take a drive to the one in Edgewater and see,” Jon said. There were multiple actions in the city on Saturday, some planned and others organically sprouted up as groups of people gathered with signs, using their voices to express the need for change. Now.
We heard them before we saw them, the people lining both sides of North Sheridan Road, blocks and blocks of them. There were many more than I was expecting. As we entered the channel between them, I laid my hand on the car horn and was met with an immediate roar of cheering. I kept honking and flashing the peace sign all the way through, sparking their enthusiasm and feeling invigorated by their response.
“Let’s see if we can park,” I said to Jon. I turned the corner, and a few feet ahead of us, a car was pulling out from the otherwise parked-up street. We grabbed the spot and walked the short distance to the south end of the rally.
The day proceeded this way, things falling into place easily, the magic unfolding as we were completely in the moment with little plan other than, “Let’s go and see.”
We spent an hour at the Edgewater event, walking the entire thing on both sides of the street, taking video of it all, and running into people we knew, including one from my high school and another, a client from long ago when I last lived here.
“You won’t remember me,” she said after shouting out to me, “Are you Nora Herold?” but I did, I knew her face.
“Do you have a card?” she asked.
“Yes!” I exclaimed as I pulled my newly minted business cards out of my purse and handed one to her. She’s the first to ask for one since they arrived last week.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said to me, and I understood her subtext. There are too many in the new age/wellness/“spiritual” world either in the Trump camp or who are choosing to sit all of this out, preaching a neutrality that only gives the perpetrators in our midst more power.
We headed back to our car and circled back around to the beginning of it, once again honking and flashing our fingers in peace. We were right behind a woman driving a car holding a “no kings” sign out her window as she made her way. It was like we planned it. We were the backup horn section for her act. We pulled up next to her at a light a few blocks past the protest and laughed and talked with her and her doggie companion, who was leaning out the window. She pointed out another group of protesters just east of us and was headed to them to rev them up.
The light turned green, and we headed south to the one in Lakeview on Broadway and Melrose. Again, we heard them before we saw them, and again we drove through with our car horn depressed while flashing peace signs and waving as the crowd cheered in response.
We started talking about the need for food, and I suddenly recalled that my dear friend Diane’s son’s new restaurant, Oak and Honey, was nearby. Harry, one of the co-owners and the baker extraordinaire, was a youngster the last time I saw him. Diane and I worked together at The Imagination Theater Company in the early to mid-90s. She was someone I became friends with immediately upon meeting, and we spent a lot of time together, both working and playing.
Lakeview was packed, and Broadway was closed just south of Belmont, right where the restaurant is located. There was an outdoor dining celebration happening there.
“Crap,” I said to Jon, realizing I’d need to turn right and detour. “We’ll eat there if I can easily find a spot.”
I turned the corner, and three spaces up was a gloriously large empty spot. It was a repeat of earlier in the day. If you’ve ever tried to find parking in a crowded neighborhood in a giant city on a beautiful Saturday during lunchtime, you know what magic this was.
We walked the half block to the restaurant and were seated outside as I asked if Diane was there. She is the general manager at the restaurant. Shortly after, she appeared right in front of us, framed in the doorway. I ran over and gave her a huge hug, this friend I had not seen in over twenty years.
The food and the catching up were delicious, as were the vibes. Sitting at a sidewalk table on Broadway in the busyness of Lakeview was also something we had not done in decades, and it was a treat as we people-watched and chatted with our neighbors seated on either side of us. I realized I had forgotten to order potatoes, and our server, Nick, made a plate of them appear in front of us in time to enjoy with the rest of our food. I looked to my right, and the girls next to us were eating piles of fluffy pancakes with a plate of potatoes between them. I gave them the props they deserved for this culinary choice. Everything was exceptional, and these were some damn good potatoes. I can’t think of a breakfast potato I have ever enjoyed as much as these, and this says a lot, as I consider the potato to be a food group in and of itself. Life is better with potatoes.
The day had a timeless quality to it, as often happens when in the moment and available for natural magic to occur. It’s my lived experience of the message I received from the Faun in mid-April.
“Natural magic is happening. When things flow almost effortlessly, that is a sign that natural magic is at work. Enjoy it! A very important part of natural magic is simply allowing the energy to flow through us. This means both giving and receiving freely. Let the energy flow - don’t push it, don’t try to control it, just dance with it. Trust it. And remember to keep returning to the source for inspiration and to keep your heart filled with light.” - Jessica Macbeth and Brian Froud, The Faeries’ Oracle
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You are one in 5 million! Excellent. ( I read this count) But I bet that number isn't as large as the actual turnout.
There’s something special about doing things at the last moment, at least for me, when I follow a sudden feeling, without worrying too much. When I do this, the universe seems to help me.
It’s like everything falls into place, and doors open that I didn’t expect. The best part? I feel free from fear, doubt, and routine. I find new parts of myself, the parts that only show up when I take a chance. For the last protest, I was ambivalent about going and decided at the last minute, yes. I find magic happens in those moments when I trust myself and jump in.
I became part of something bigger, working with the flow of life. I feel like I’m discovering parts of myself I didn’t know or had long ago left behind. Now, I can be in a crowd without fear or feeling trapped. And having said all this, I did NOT go to the No Kings Rally, it was terribly hot and having very recently recovered from my health crisis, I had zero doubt about my choice to stay home, without regret. Michael went with our neighbor, and they were so happy that they went.
Now, on a different note, I have an issue with the label “No Kings Day Protest.” Our president is far worse than any modern king, so calling it that doesn’t capture the real danger and downplays the real problem. A better name might be “No Tyrants Day” or “No Dictators Day.” I understand it’s probably named after the revolution here, but still, the wording could feel stronger. I love you Nora and look forward to the next transmission next week.
I first took in this article by listening to it - using that substack feature, and I'm so glad I came here and saw those gorgeous potatoes! I've been saying I want to learn to make good breakfast potatoes and those are some good inspiration!
Also happy to read about your No Kings experience. I have seen so many positive pictures and demonstrations of solidarity, which is a welcome balm for the soul.
Thank you!