Groggy, but back home again. The moving process is a long one. I stay in a high rise in Hartford, which means that after I finally pack everything, (and yes, I bring a lot) I have to make at least 20 trips up and down via the elevator and then to my car, which happened to be rather far out in the parking lot. Then a two hour drive home. Then, unloading the car and putting everything away. The whole thing took me most of the day. I finally finished around 5 p.m.

And since I’ve been staying up later due to the play, my sleeping hours are slightly off.

I went through most of the day with only one contact from Don via a quick text that let me know he was okay and safe. Cell service was almost non-existent; I imagine 500,000 extra citizens tweeting, using their phones to take pictures, and IGing made the coverage pretty spotty.

Finally about 4:30, I got a call. Don was back at the bus waiting to leave at 6. His knees were really feeling it! He said it was the most astounding day. He had never seen that many people – so many people that, at times, he simply couldn’t move. A sea of pink hats, of marchers as far as the eye could see. Truly powerful. He had great conversations with lots of people, figured out how to get around on the Metro, and marched and marched and marched some more.

I’m so proud of him. He’s very tired today, of course, and I will be sure to ask more questions of him, but he didn’t get home until after midnight, and he had to drive through heavy fog. I happened to be awake when he got home, so I ran downstairs to greet him.

While he was gone, I was on Twitter reading about the crowds marching all over the world, including Antarctica(!) Unbelievable and so inspiring! Everywhere. 500,000 in Washington, DC, 250,000 in Chicago, over 200,000 in NYC, and 750,000 in Los Angeles. Small towns, state capitols, north, south, east, west, in the heartland, down south – everywhere. Paris, London, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, South America, Canada, Mexico, all over Europe. EVERYWHERE. (Oops! I’m using ALL CAPS like that man’s tweets!) Let me try that again: Everywhere. 

Free Speech, as granted by the Constitution. A peaceful protest, and the largest in the history of the United States.

Hartford was gearing up for its protest as I was packing up the car. The Capitol is just across the street from the apartment building. People were streaming into Hartford from all over. 10,000 of them. Side note: I got to meet the Governor of CT, Dannel Malloy, on Opening Night. I’m a big admirer, so shaking his hand was an honor. He marched on Saturday.

Today, we are attending a local meeting where we’re going to hear from a woman who ran for Congress (and lost) in November. She is a powerful presence and I look forward to learning from her.

Forgot to add: On my way home, I stopped at a rest stop. I was wearing my Nasty Women Vote T-shirt in honor of the day. As I left the bathroom and walked back to my car, a woman shouted out, “Hey Lady! I love your shirt!” As I said on Facebook: We’re everywhere.

But back to being home. It’s lovely. Hartford was lovely as well, but there’s no place like home. I’m back at my desk in the studio/office. I’m looking out at the mountains in the distance. Don’s downstairs. I had a great conversation with my always fascinating and feisty Little Z last night.

All is well.

Happy Sunday.