Life and Death

I'm sure that I've experienced spring before but maybe not with such intensity. I think it's partly because we've moved to the Willamette Valley with its incredible profusion of blooming trees, bushes, bulbs--everything happening at once, right now! And partly it's because, for the first time in my life, I have the time and space to pay more attention. We have this beautiful little paradise of home and garden, and spring is jumping out and enveloping us.





Since I last wrote Courtney has planted two apple trees, a Meyer lemon, a kiwifruit, a black currant bush, a climbing rose, two baby Douglas Fir, a baby Ponderosa Pine, and the 10ft Redwood you see in the photo above, sticking out of the back of his little Hondita. (Some people would consider his Honda an economy car, but we consider it a work horse.)

Our front window boxes are full of the colors of primrose and pansies. After the gray of winter it is thrilling to see all the color, color, color everywhere. Courtney has bought posts and a post hole digger to build the framework for training the apple trees to grow espalier-style along the west side of our house. We've checked out library books on how to build trellises and arbors. We've pulled out all our gardening books and begun to plan what's going where.




In the midst of all this spring bursting forth, Aaron arrived on March 15th for two and a half weeks of school break. The first night he was here it was so warm that Maya and Eder had a barbeque in their backyard and invited Aaron's friends John and Jen and their parents Kathy and Douglas. I think the time change has also contributed to the feeling that we've leapt overnight from one season to the next.




Two days after Aaron arrived we had a 4th Anniversary March protesting the war in Iraq. About 400 people gathered at the park along the river and then marched up and down the streets of downtown Corvallis and ended up at the County Courthouse. Below is a photo of Aaron before the March started, holding the sign that he and I made the night before. (To his left are the Raging Grannies in full costume singing as the crowd is gathering.) Aaron's become quite the veteran sign-maker, as I told the reporter from the Gazette-Times who interviewed us. She ended her article about the March with a comment on Aaron and his sign-making skills and long career of protesting the war, plus a quote from me about teaching our kids about participating if we want them to live in a thriving democracy. That's the second March in a row that reporters have singled out me and Aaron to interview. What does this mean?!




It wasn't because Aaron was the youngest at the March. There were lots of families with young kids. And it was wonderful to see so many teenagers there, on their own and in big groups (obviously into it, not dragged there by their peacenik parents).

While Aaron and I marched, Courtney rode his bike ahead and photographed the impressive procession that stretched for 10 blocks or more. We ended the March with a Rally in front of the Courthouse and a student band from campus playing political songs.




Two days later, on the actual 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, 130 of us marched single file through the OSU campus, in silence and dressed in black, carrying signs. We were led by a single drummer who kept us at a slow and mournful pace. Part way through the March we stopped in front of the Memorial Union Building and had a die-in. (At first glance I was skeptical about how many of our elderly marchers were going to lay down and "die" on the cold, wet concrete in the misty rain. But you know peace people are a hardy bunch and they almost all laid right down!) Ten minutes later, when the drummer resumed the beat, everyone slowly arose, gathered their signs and we continued the March. Aaron was the only child at that one, except those like Ben who were in strollers, but he seemed proud to participate and wore his black armband and pushed Ben's stroller the entire hour without a peep of complaint. (Ahhhh, the way to a mother's heart! I took him right out for Starbucks!)

The next morning I read the accounts of the larger March in Portland. They had young Iraq War veterans speak at their Rally. They described their disillusionment after seeing the mistreatment of Iraqis and the war profiteering going on. One said, "Americans pay with economics. Iraqis pay with their lives. Soldiers, with their sanity."

Another said, "The war is going very well. Oil is now $57/barrel versus $18 under Clinton. Halliburton stock has tripled. Exxon-Mobil reported a record $10 billion profit last quarter, the largest of any corporation in history. Mission Accomplished."

Another older vet said, "I long for the days when our leaders were crooks nd scoundrels, like Nixon, instead of war criminals."

Meanwhile, in the midst of the Marches and Rallies, another very sad anniversary happens each year. March 16th marked the 4th anniversary of an Israeli soldier, driving an armored Caterpillar bulldozer, crushing and killing 23-year-old peace activist Rachel Corrie. I attended a memorial service for her at the Unitarian Church in Salem that doubled as a send-off event for my friend Josh, who was leaving for 3 months of studying Arabic in Damascus.

And one last sad note: Earlier in the month we got the word from Monterey that our dear friend and cohort, Charlie Turk, had died after years of valiantly trying to beat the cancer. For years he had worked tirelessly, when his health permitted, as a Board Member of the Peace & Justice Center. (He was, in fact, one of the first people I broached the subject of starting a Peace Center with and his support and encouragement helped make it happen.)

Shortly after the news of Charlie's death, we received this email from President of the Board, Joyce Vandevere: "Monterey Peace and Justice Center received 501c3 status four days after Charlie died, and mostly due to his persistent, hard work on the application, his great parting gift to us." We leave behind so many ways for people to remember us.

On a happy note from Monterey: Our dear friend Darby was just awarded on the ten Women of The Year for Monterey County for her lifetime work of peace advocacy. Congratulations, Darby! Acknowledgement for all your efforts towards justice for all and a more peaceful world.

Meanwhile, on the homefront, our little crooked tail cat has moved in casually. She comes around for food and loving, checks the house out quite respectfully and then heads outside to stalk and prey. Aaron's happy to finally have a "pet" and Benny is entertained by her very presence, so.......so far, so good.

Last bit of news: Courtney was elected to the Board of Trustees of the HOUR Exchange (local currency). They're so happy to have his energy and enthusiasm. He and I are both trying to find our particular passions and focus on them. It's so easy to get pulled in so many directions. And meanwhile the gardens are calling to us, and spring won't wait, so I'd better get off the computer and head outdoors!

Many thanks for reading this, and happy springtime--hope for renewal,

Valori