But Wait! There's More!

I'm posting the rest of the photos from yesterday's event so that AFSC staff can see them. Dear AFSC staff, you can see more photos if you scroll down to my previous post. And you can read about my process as I journeyed down the 1,000 postcard path by reading the one before that. And the one before that. And the one before that.

He sang for us. A capella. Beautiful.

Those Raging Grannies. So cute!

Postcarded Out

I have no more words about postcards and boots and death and the wonderful experience of working on this project. So here are photos from yesterday. As you can see, after the snow, the sun came out and it was a beautiful day.

There is a real person in there.

War IS a crime against humanity.

Frosting on Our Valentines

It has been snowing through the night and it's still coming down pretty hard. There are at least 4 inches of the stuff on the ground right now.

And today we are supposed to put out over 70 pairs of boots that represent the Colorado soldiers killed in these wars. We're going to place 100 or so pairs of shoes on the ground to represent the hundreds of thousands (if not more) Iraqi and Afghan citizens who have been killed in the wars. We're supposed to be putting out 1,000 PAPER postcards to represent all U.S. soldiers who have died in Afghanistan. Not a great plan on a snowy day.

I watch a squirrel run along the telephone wire, knocking snow to the ground. I feel the calm of a frosting-covered world. Peace IS, right here, right now.

This may be the first EVER event for me where I slept like a baby the night before. I feel no anxiety. I am satisfied. I know that things will unfold as they will and it's not in my hands. What will we do today? Will we have to cancel because of the snow? Will the snow stop and will those amazing people who clear it all away clear it before our event? If so, will people still brave the cold to face a war that has been so hidden from them that they forget it's even occurring?

I have no idea.

I'll be interested in finding out.

Happy Valentine's Day.

Much love to you.


P.S. If you have a moment, please stop by Nick's place and wish him a Happy Birthday.

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.

The Human Cost

If you live in Colorado...

8 Years in Afghanistan: The Human Cost

Join us for Eyes Wide Open, the Human Cost of War. As there are commemorations all around the world to mark this chilling anniversary, we will be participating in Denver with the Eyes Wide Open Exhibit.

Tomorrow, Saturday, October 17, 2009
9 am - 2pm

At noon there will be a special remembrance of lives lost in Afghanistan and Iraq, both civilian and military.

Location: Public space between the library and the art museum in downtown Denver.
10 W 14th Ave. Parkway