Women's March on Washington

Back in mid-November I jumped on a chance to buy a ticket to ride a bus down to DC for the Women's March on Washington that was taking shape. In truth there was no actual march yet, just a lot of sentiment that this election had been one of the worst outcomes for women. And we weren't going to take it lying down. It was November 18th when I spent $65 for a roundtrip seat and I wasn't really convinced any of it was going to happen. But I knew if it was, I wanted to be there.  Fast forward a month and we were in the midst of the holidays and protesting the incoming President was not really on my radar. It seemed like a distant future and one I wasn't really eager to rush into. I was living in denial for sure, but then the New Year came and it all started to sink in. We were really going to have Donald Trump as President. I don't think I'll ever forgive the American electorate for voting for this dumpster fire of a person. And yes, I know he didn't win the popular vote. In fact, he lost to Hillary Clinton by nearly 3 million votes, but it doesn't matter. This is where we are at now and there is no magical Hollywood plot twist to sort it all out. It's time to step up and start being heard and taking back our country from the powers that will no doubt be out to force their terrible agenda down our throats.

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The Warm Up

The weeks leading up to the Women's March in DC were filled with lots of memorable evenings out in preparation for the big trip. I had been in touch with Shu Bergman about knitting our group some pink pussyhats after she realized we would have a Sunnymoms contingent going there. The whole idea of the hat sprung from one woman's idea of how to make a visual impact at the protest march as well as a way to reclaim that word from the likes of sexual aggressors like our President Elect. A group of us also managed to come up with a slogan, design a logo and get t-shirts printed to honor our borough of Queens and the women in it. The community I've come to love was really finding ways to connect and help one another and it was a delight to be part of it all.

I also had a photo gig at a birthday party for one of Carolina's friends from her AMB days...it was fun seeing the kids all together again

The fact that Nacho was working a lot in the week before I left made it feel like I had another reason to go. To have some me time! I indulged myself in brushing up on my feminist theory from such greats as Audre Lorde and I spent time with friends decorating posters and teaching my girls that this is the time when it matters that we fight. We fight with words and with our actions. And as I dived more and more into what I wanted out of my upcoming trip, I realized the root of all of this was about really bonding with the women I've come to rely on as good friends. We have each other's backs and that matters especially in times like these. It's been critical for me over the last year and I was glad to finally have an expression of that as we prepared to take it to the Capitol and the White House. DC or bust! I don't think this kind of passion and engagement would have been possible for me if Hillary had won. I know I wouldn't be heading there for her inauguration which is kind of a weird feeling. Yet, there is a renewed sense of what really matters and a sort of solidarity amongst all stripes of liberals that this is the beginning of a sea change. History never looks so clear when you are in the midst of it. But I know I'm on the right side. We're watching you, Trump. We're coming for you.

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Gymtastic Birthday

A year ago Jade and family moved to their new digs in the same apartment complex in Hunters Point South as Carmen and Leonardo. And since then, we've only run into them a few times considering she's no longer in ballet with the girls at SBS. So it was great to get an invitation to her January birthday party for a chance to catch up and get a few of the AMB kids back together for a bit. Her baby sister Bella was also turning 1 recently so it made sense to have a joint party and mom Tereza wanted some pictures to remember the special occasion. So I brought my big guns to the party and started snapping away. The gym at LIC Kids has been renovated and changed around since I was there last and it makes for a great party space. Carolina was in her element with all the gymnastics equipment and declared she just HAD to wear her leotard (despite my protests that most kids wouldn't be in theirs). So off we went in a snowstorm to say happy birthday to these girls and to jump and play with abandon...