Yesterday

7:30 a.m. Arrive at the public area between Denver Public Library and the Denver Art Museum. Unload bags and bags of shoes and boots. COLD! I have never been a part of the Eyes Wide Open exhibit in warm temps. What is it about that?

9:00 a.m. All boots, shoes and signs are arranged. Three women from the downtown Women in Black vigil arrive and stand with their banner. One of the women ends up standing the entire 5 hours we have the exhibit out. I really appreciate her dedication. A few people pass by. Some look for a few moments. Others keep eyes straight ahead as they walk to wherever they are going. I wonder how they can be so disengaged with what is going on around them. Then I realize that I am sure I have been that way before during times when I wasn't comfortable with what presented itself to me. (Mental note: I want to live my life being present, with wonder, open to investigating what's around me.)







A few of the "usual suspects" come and hang out with us. I love these people. All are kind. All trying to help the world in any way that they can.

Noon: The wonderful women from the Women in Black vigil that I stand with come with our banner. We all gather. There is a prayer. "...Remind us what YOU have taught through every religion, that we are wise to do to others not as we have been done to but as we want others to do to us. Open our eyes, make us wise that You give us answers better than war..." Names are read. The first Iraqi name, that of a one-year-old, shoots through the air and into our hearts.
The weight of my head is too heavy for my shoulders to support.










Then Jeff Lucey was remembered. Not a casualty of physical injuries, but a suicide after returning home from the war. A casualty of war, nonetheless. My heart... We all stood in silence for a long time. There were no more words.

Boots representing the unknown number of suicides that have occurred
as a result of the wars.

Thank you for the photos, Mr. Carol For Peace.