March 20, 2004
Last Day: Cambridge to Boston
I'm back home, and now the walk is just a memory. The last day was cold and sometimes windy. We walked from Harvard Square down Mass. Ave., stopping at the Cambridge City Hall to meet with the mayor of Cambridge. Since Cambridge has already joined the Mayors for Peace campaign, we talked about the bio weapons laboratory development, and Cambridge's mayor was already well informed about the issue. Then we continued down Mass. Ave. to Boston, where we made our way to Blackstone Park for an interfaith prayer service. We heard prayers from religious leaders, sang a few songs, heard from community activists about the proposed bio-weapons lab, then chanted together. After the prayer service, we headed to Boston's city hall, for a closing ceremony where we listened to 2 of Boston's city councilors speak to us. After walking and standing around in the cold, we were all ready to go inside to someplace warm once the ceremony was over. Many of us went across the street to a local bagle shop for a bite to eat and to say our goodbyes. The walk was over, but the connections made and the memories will remain. |
March 18, 2004
Wakefield to Cambridge
It was a busy day, with 4 gatherings of various types along the way. We stopped in Melrose to meet with local clergy, activists, and the mayor's staff, then went to a soup kitchen in Malden for lunch. After lunch we walked to a meeting with the mayor of Medford. He had recently met the Dalai Lama, who was in Medford for a ceremony to dedicate a Tibetan temple there a few months ago. Medford also has a sister city in Japan, whose citizens helped rescue some sailors from Medford after a shipwreck off Japan long ago. The mayor was eloquent in his support for grassroots efforts like ours, and expressed his concern about the secretiveness of the proposed BU bio weapons lab. As we were walking out of Medford, there was a traffic accident, probably caused by a driver distracted by our procession. Fortunately no one was seriously injured, although one of the drivers, a young woman, was rather shaken up by it, and may have been hurt. A couple of us stayed with the drivers until the emergency vehicles arrived. The incident raised some questions about the effects of our walk, and our responsibility in causing this type of accident. It was uncomfortable to have this occur right next to our walk, and put a damper on the afternoon. Fortunately our next stop was at an after school program in Somerville. There we were greeted by a diverse group of youth, who were enthusiastic to hear our drumming as we arrived. We went inside and gathered in a circle, where we shared some of our walk experiences and answered the children's questions about our walk. Monique also asked the children about what peace means to them. Their simplicity and honesty were wonderful to hear, and helped us to think about peace in new ways. |
March 17, 2004
Newton to Wakefield
Lots of snow on the ground this morning, and light flurries continued throughout the day. We were in no hurry to start the day, and shuttled from our morning meeting place to a coffee shop in the center of Waltham. From there we walked to Lexington center for lunch, and then on to Wakefield where we shuttled to Tina's place. Walking with so much snow is a challenge, and I think we were all damp and tired by the end of the day. |
another poem by Jim
Guns or Butter
by Robert J. Wolfe (aka Jim)
Well hey there good Republicans
You must be askin why
When there's so much we all could share
Just where's your piece of pie?
With Bushman serving all his friends
It just don't go around.
You could be doin so much good
If only you would sound.
You could be buildin schools and roads
And doin so much more.
Instead of layin so much waste,
Instead of makin war,
You could be makin dividends,
Be makin principle.
If everybody had a share,
If every bowl was full.
We all could share just so much more
With less spent on defense.
Would you have butter on your toast?
It's only common sense.
Braintree to Newton
We walked from East Braintree to Quincy Center where we took the subway to Fields Corner in Dorcester. Walking through Dorcester and Roxbury, I got the sense that the wish for non-violence was more tangible to people's lives in these areas. Near Dudley station, I approached a group of men to give a walk pamphlet to one of them. One guy jumped up and thanked me for doing the walk. His son was recently killed by a stray bullet at Dudley Station, and he was still mourning his death. He told me about a planned walk in the Dudley Square area for April, and thanked me for walking for non-violence. It would have been great to have a discussion about finding peace with a group from Dudley Square, I'm sure it would have added fresh perspectives to our walk and the issue of finding peace. |
Then we walked to Albany Street and the proposed site of a bio weapons lab to be built on the BU medical center grounds. Activists are up in arms about this proposal, check out the Alternatives for Community and Environment web site for the reasons. After a wonderful lunch at Haley House in the South End, we bundled up, preparing for a late winter storm forecast for the area. We walked through Kenmore Square, past BC, to the Newton City Hall. There we met the mayor of Newton, and engaged him in a dialog about nuclear war and the bio weapons lab proposal, while we presented him with a peace packet. After dinner we split up to go to our home stays. With around 6 inches of snow on the ground, I got my boots out of the van to prepare for today's walk. |
March 15, 2004
Scituate to Braintree
It was a pleasant day to walk today. We walked through Scituate and Cohasset to lunch at the Unitarian Church in Hingham, where we were fed a wonderful meal by some friends met on last year's spring walk. Kato Shonin explained that it was more virtuous to receive a simple meal, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the excellent food. In the afternoon we walked through Weymouth to Braintree. |
I'm writing this in a Vietnamese temple in Braintree that used to be a nursing home. There is a central Buddha Hall surrounded by rooms. It would appear that the nurses station has been replaced by an altar with 4 Buddhas, complete with lights coming out from behind their heads. Nurses on duty replaced by meditating Buddhas - such is the evolution of this slice of America. From somewhere or another there's a deep gong that sounds about every 15 seconds - it sounds like a recording. The Buddhas on the altar are some of the youngest meditating Buddhas I've seen, and the lights coming from behind their heads - well, I guess there's no doubt that these Buddhas are enlightened. |
March 14, 2004
Duxbury to Scituate
After getting lots of sleep last night, today was a much better day. The gel shoe inserts I bought at lunch didn't hurt either. After a short stop in Plymouth to bless the statue of Massasoit, we went to Duxbury, where we met a local peace group that's been vigiling every week since before the Iraqi war. They made us sandwiches and other fixins for lunch, and told us about their activities. |
While walking through Marshfield, Jim found a couple of crosses next to the road. They were similar to one that Brother Temm found last fall in Connecticut. They had a tag explaining that they are placed in the ground every mile by a right leg amputee to spread the message of God's love, and to focus on our abilities and not our disabilities. Brother Temm called up the phone number listed on the message, and spoke to Reverend Carol Cruise about her faith walk, and to tell her a little about ours. An interesting connection made on the walk. |
We arrived at the Harbor United Methodist Church in Scituate, and were met by Wayne Ross. Wayne and a friend set out a few years ago to ride their bikes from Northern Alaska to the southern tip of South America. Wayne ran into a bus in Guatemala and was paralyzed from the chest down. His friend completed the trip, which was done to raise awareness about MS. Wayne showed us a video of news clips about his trip, and we discussed our travels together. Wayne said that even though the news clips often focused on the bad events of the trip, he was amazed at the generosity and kindness received during his journey. Despite his accident, he continues to find new challenges and ways to keep involved in living a full life. |
Barnstable to Sandwich
Yesterday was a tough day. For some reason, there was no joy in the walk. I've usually enjoyed carrying the banner at the front of the walk, and smiling and waving at passersby. But I just couldn't get enthused about it yesterday. I didn't even want to make eye contact with passing cars. After a while, I gave up the banner to Louise. We made it to the East Sandwich Friends Meeting House for lunch, which was also our dinner gathering spot. My blisters were already hurting. I was tired. Sometimes, taking care of the world means that I need to take care of myself. So I took the afternoon off from the walk, went with Alissa's aunt to our home stay, got a hot shower and took a nap. In the evening, after the potluck and gathering, I went to bed early and slept until morning, hoping that my feet wouldn't hurt so much during today's walk. |
March 12, 2004
Mashpee to Barnstable
I thought after yesterday's rest day that today would be easier, and that my feet wouldn't feel as sore after today's walk. It was a nice idea while it lasted. Each foot has a blister, and the left foot especially is uncomfortable tonight. Today started off nice, and for a while it felt like it was going to be a very nice, warm, spring day. However, there were some large white fluffy clouds in the distance that got closer and closer, while also getting darker and more ominous looking. Right after we ate lunch, the wind really picked up and then it started raining and snowing. Fortunately we sat out the storm in our support vehicles, and then the sun came out again. By the end of the day, it was snowing again. |
Tonight when we arrived at the Barnstable UU Church, we found out that Kyla, a professionally trained massage therapist, was available to massage our feet. She and her husband had prepared warm, salted foot baths for us, and followed that up with a foot massage. It was heavenly. I'm amazed and inspired by how much care and support we receive on the walk. |
It's really not possible to describe the walk properly in this kind of format. There are so many varied interactions that contribute to the walk experience, and it's not possible to even begin to explain what they all mean. Stories from people touched by the walk. Brief interactions with strangers who see the walk. Exchanging smiles with someone driving by in their car. Having a conversation at dinner with someone I just met. Getting to know the other walkers, not just their story, but by how they interact with the group and how they live their lives. So I wanted to share part of an email I got from a woman who joined the walk with her daughter Sophie for a short time after lunch on Wednesday in Essex. It's countless interactions like this that create the walk experience.
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March 11, 2004
Newburyport to Gloucester
Yesterday morning we met in Newburyport, where Kristina Olsen led us on a walk to the edge of town. From there we shuttled to the House of Peace in Ipswich, with a delicious apple crisp and warm welcome. Then we set off on a walk to Essex, with a wonderful potluck lunch provided at the UU Church. On last year's walk I met James, a 13 year old who joined the walk in Essex and continued all the way around the South Shore and back into Boston. This year he's joining us for 3 days of this walk, and getting ready to go to Japan for a 3 month long walk in April. This is one of the advantages of being home schooled. |
In the afternoon we set off for Gloucester with new walkers who joined us at lunch. We stopped at Wellspring for a bathroom break, and received a warm welcome in their original colonial building. After stopping at the famous fisherman's statue on the harbor in Gloucester, we made it to the UU Church in the center of town to complete our walking for the day. Once again we had a delicious potluck, followed by a heartfelt discussion about the walk and our individual and common searches for peace. This was my 14th straight day of walking without a day off. My feet are sore and have blisters, and I am tired. I've talked with a lot of wonderful people in the last 2 weeks, and have been amazed at the generosity and support they've given me and the walk. I've also had a chance to see some friends and acquaintances in some of the towns I've walked through. Today (Thursday) is a much needed rest day. I'm hoping it will give me a chance to relax, restore and revitalize. It also gives me a chance to catch up on various business and things that don't always get done in the busyness of a walk. It's a challenge to do the walk, eating, socializing, and personal care, and still have time to update this journal. So I'm glad to have a day off today. |
March 09, 2004
North Andover to Newburyport
We walked about 20 miles today, which I think was the longest day so far. Hattie and I drove back from Athol and met everybody in North Andover, where we started walking this morning. Once again, it was snowing this morning, and on top of the snow from yesterday, it made for a beautiful morning. We stopped in Georgetown for lunch, and got ourselves invited into a beautiful Congregational Church in the center of town to eat lunch with the local senior citizen's group. In the afternoon we had a long walk to Newburyport and had a wonderful gathering hosted by the folk singer Kristina Olson. I'd write more about it, but it's past my bed time already. |
March 08, 2004
Chelmsford to Andover
Woke up to a beautiful snowfall this morning. I've been told that vigiling or walking in inclement weather is great, because it shows others how determined we are to do what needs to be done. I have to admit that walking in the snow is not as pleasant as walking on a sunny, warm day. My feet got damp and cold, and I didn't enjoy the snow blowing in my eyes. However, I kept telling myself how much more effective it was to walk in the snow, how it would really impress others with our determination. I'm not sure I really believed it, but I was willing to give myself the benefit of the doubt. This morning the van had trouble shuttling to the lunch spot, so we stopped to check out what was happening with it. For a while, it felt like we weren't able to walk because of car trouble. Something just seems wrong about that. We headed to Andover, and stopped at Raytheon to vigil outside one of their facilities, where there's been vigils and arrests in the past. After visiting Raytheon, Hattie and I drove to Athol, where Hattie had helped to organize a talk by Howard Zinn followed by a reading of The Caitinsville 9, a play by Daniel Barrigan. I went along to help direct cars into the limited parking spots. Dr. Zinn is a great speaker, and he talked about the importance of studying history so we can better understand what's going on in the present. The Caitinsville 9 reading was about the Vietnam war, and it brought up questions about how to protest unjust actions by our government that seem as relevant today as they were then. |
March 07, 2004
Groton to Chelmsford
Today's walk started in Groton, when we were accompanied by Susan and Andy, a mother and son who we met the previous evening at their Unitarian Church. We walked to Westford, where we ate lunch on the common, then got invited into coffee hour at the Westford Unity Church to meet their friendly congregation. In the afternoon, my friend Ken showed up with some friends of his, and walked with us to the Episcopalian Church in Chemlsford, where we received a wonderful dinner. One of the challenges of keeping this journal is finding not only the time, but also the energy to go through my pictures, select the best ones, reformat them for the web site, then writing up the events of the day. After a long day of walking, a pot luck dinner, and a discussion with local people interested in the walk, I just want to get a hot shower (if one is available, that is), then get a good nights sleep. I guess that's why it's so easy for me to be brief in my descriptions. One of the things I've been meaning to write about is the joy of receiving the support of the local communities we walk through. Every night we have met some wonderful people, and they have fed us an amazing variety of great food. Every night we find warm and dry places to sleep, ranging from floors to comfortable beds. I'm amazed at the kindness of all the strangers who provide this wonderful bounty. It's easy to become cynical and depressed about the human condition after reading the news or watching it on TV for a while. But getting out and about, and meeting so many wonderful people working for, praying for, and creating peace is a wonderful experience. It's wonderful to see that so many people are inspired by what we do, and are willing to support us in our walk. In turn, we are inspired by those who turn out to meet us, to feed us, to house us, or even those who wave and smile as we walk by. At the start of the walk I wondered what I had done to deserve such wonderful treatment, but during the walk I've had a chance to listen to stories of what previous walks have inspired, and I understand why someone is willing to drive around for a day to support us. Marilyn talked about how she couldn't have even dreamed of doing a peace vigil in Huntington until the monks walked through 2 years ago and drummed and chanted outside the town hall. That inspired her to create a local vigil, and despite threats and warnings, its now become an accepted happening in the town. A group in Westfield coalesced after a visit by a previous walk, and has been holding vigils in town as well as other events. It's amazing how inspiring the simple action of walking for peace can be. So now when I see someone give us the thumbs up, or other expression of support for our walk, I wonder how that person might be inspired to act for peace in their own lives. |
March 06, 2004
Fitchburg to Groton
Every day of the walk is an adventure, and I never know what to expect as the day unfolds. During the walk it's easy for me to look forward to unanticipated events - why can't I do the same in my everyday life? Scenes from today's walk include a picture of our lunchtime hosts at Saint Boniface Parish in Lunenburg, who graciously let us use their church at lunchtime. While walking after lunch, a woman came up to us and asked if it was okay to take our picture. Having our picture taken by someone outside our group seems to happen about once a day. She told Hattie that she wanted a picture of us so she could show her friends that she's not the only one working for peace. |
March 05, 2004
Winchendon to Gardner
Most evenings after the walk we host a community pot luck dinner and gathering. Last night at the gathering, Jim mentioned recent hearings about increasing power output at Vermont Yankee nuclear reactor, and read us the following poem:
Just Leave the Lights Onby Robert J. Wolfe (aka Jim)
So try to squeeze a little more
From aging creaking plants.
It's like a game of jeopardy,
It's like a game of chance.You never know just who'll clean up,
So push a little more.
So turn another gadget on,
Until you breech the core.Until you see it all rise up
And coming down around.
Perhaps you'll sing Amazing Grace
To find it so profound.Too late to know to educate,
Too late to say your prayers.
Too late to point; say who's at fault,
And who shall be the payers.For if you really want to know,
Then simply say I am.
For when she blows we're all at fault,
When it's too late to scram.
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More pictures from the Village School
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March 04, 2004
Athol to Royalston
Today we were joined for part of our morning walk by Margot and Andye from Catskill, NY. Before they left the walk, Margot read the following:
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We walked for a half day today, with a half day off in the afternoon. The morning walk ended at the Village School in Royalston. We were met about a mile from the school by a large group of children and teachers, and we all walked together back to the school. On the way, there were lots of smiles and great energy. Some of the children drew peace signs in the sand along the road, and all of the others made sure not to step on any of the peace signs. After we got to the school, we were invited into the classroom to introduce ourselves and answer questions from the children. It was wonderful to have everyone participate with us. In the afternoon I talked to J.R., one of the children who joined the walk, who said it was fun to participate. |
March 03, 2004
Leverett to Athol
This morning we started off by walking around the pagoda. Then we went to the Wendell Country Store for lunch, which is a wonderful country store where we received an enthusiastic greeting and went inside to an impromptu and delicious pot luck lunch. Even the postmaster came out of the post office to greet us, where our picture was taken by a local newspaper reporter. We were joined at the pagoda by a woman who called in sick to work to walk with us - her walking was good medicine for her heart. |
In the afternoon we walked from the center of Orange to Athol High School. The end of the walk was up a long hill out of the center of Athol. Eric said he was tired and sore, and not enjoying climbing the hill. Some kids yelled over to him from the other side of the street. When they crossed the street, he engaged them in conversation, then they decided to walk with us to the high school. Later, another group of 4 people with a drum joined us. Having people join the walk in progress gave all of us extra energy to get to the end of the day. At the high school, when Eric told the kids that I am posting pictures of the walk online, they wanted their picture taken, and here it is. |
March 02, 2004
Conway to Leverett
We left Conway in a slow drizzle this morning, then somewhere in Greenfield it turned into a beautiful sunny spring day. School was getting out as we walked out of Greenfield, and there were lots of kids on their way home from school smiling and waving at us. Some of them just looked away - maybe they were worried they'd get infected or something if they looked at us. Sunny and Gary from Traprock joined the walk from Greenfield to Turner's Falls, and Monique came from Cambridge for a couple of days of walking. |
This evening we had dinner and an evening program at Mt. Toby Friends Meeting House. We got to hear Mikey play drums and guitar - the guy is multitalented, and will be missed when he heads back to high school tomorrow. We did a dance to start and end the evening gathering, and had another wonderful dinner. |
March 01, 2004
Northampton to Conway
We stopped by Northampton city hall this morning to present a peace walk packet to the mayor's assistant - the mayor was too busy doing her mayoral duties to meet us. As we were walking by Smith College, we were joined by Daniel, who drove down from Brattleboro to join the walk for the day. As the day progressed, I found out he had spent 3 years in federal prison for sabotaging a nuclear weapon. Not the kind of person I run into very often. I asked him how he felt while he was destroying the weapon, and he said it was exhilirating, as it happened after months of preparation. I asked him about his motivation for doing such an action, and among other inspirations, he talked about how Jesus practiced resistance against the powers of his day. I didn't ask him if he talked about this during his trial, but he did say he was able to make a statement about why he did his action before he was found guilty. |
While walking through the Florence section of Northampton, we were joined by a woman (Lauren) and 3 children. They walked with us for a few blocks, until we got to a house with a man filming us with a video camera. That was Lauren's house, and her husband filming us. It turned out that they not only knew Trudy, but that Lauren's husband knew Asami, one of the monks of Nipponzon Myohoji. |
We walked on route 9 from Northampton to Williamsburg, then we took some back roads through the wooded hills of Whately into Conway. This afternoon we took a rest break next to a reservoir, and found some peace. However, we had a walk to do, so we got up and walked the rest of the way into the center of Conway, where we found a beautiful library that had been donated to the town by Marshall Fields. |
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