BlogWonks

Temperatures were almost down to the freezing point when my day started before dawn in Los Angeles. I drove the roughly 130 miles to San Diego in a light coat and T-shirt in a car whose heater is on the blink. That cup of Hot Chocolate I wrapped my hands around, about 30 miles outside of San Diego, was very welcome. It was the “Hot” more than the “Chocolate” that felt best. Typical of Southern California weather this time of year, the cold didn’t hang around long once the sun came up.

After meeting up with friends at the “CRISPE bus gathering point,” having a doughnut, and blowing up some balloons, we waited patiently for the start of the MLK Day parade. CRISPE founder, Larry Kirkman, http://www.crispe.org/ had once again done a magnificent job of bringing together all the pieces necessary to present Father’s issues to a large public assembly. It was an exciting moment when our turn finally came to “step forward” and join in the parade. We eagerly moved out in unison. Kids, and Dads, and Moms, and friends walked side by side, proclaiming a message extolling 50/50 shared parenting.

We’d only gone about a short city block before we heard enthusiastic comments from the crowd lining the street like: “Yea,” and “Ain’t that the truth,” and “That’s right,” and “I’m glad to see that.” If anyone along the parade route disagreed with our signs, they certainly were keeping it to themselves. Harry Crouch of The San Diego Men’s Center http://www.californiamenscenters.org/ marched along the parade route with us. He wore a carpenter’s bib full of CRISPE flyers and handed them out to the folks lining the streets.

There were some gaps along the parade route, but as we made a right turn to head back to the starting point, masses of people lining the main downtown focus point greeted us. Suddenly everyone in our group became a pamphleteer as crowd interest in our group increased dramatically. It was a glorious, albeit very busy, moment for all of us. Over the commotion of the large crowd, an event official announced our group as we marched by. The crowd roared with approval without notable exception. It was a happy and fun day for all of us, despite the serious message we were communicating to those gathered.

I guess it is true that, “Time flies when you’re having fun,” because I was more than a little surprised when I looked up and saw our group turning back into the parking lot after what seemed like a fairly short hour and a half. “I made it.” I thought to myself, “and surprisingly, my legs haven’t fallen off!” It seemed like I must have walked a couple hundred yards backwards while videotaping, and I must have run at least a half a dozen sprints as I ran to catch up, or ran ahead to get a good location for photo opportunities - all in a worthwhile day’s work.

MLK day is a day that American’s honor the civil rights work of Dr. Martin Luther King. Communities across America remember what he did to advance the civil rights of African-Americans. Marching in Saturday’s parade, commemorating the work of civil rights leader Dr. King, while calling attention to the ongoing civil rights violations against Fathers and their kids in family law, appears to have been a very compatible pairing.