Our next Bed-In

[Nancy]

Saw the GNP!!! OoooWee!!! Good job. thanks for all the work guys. See ya at 5 with slippers on. Taking this lying down to say that we're not going to take this lying down: Zen if I weren't so hyper. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Bed Peace, Nancy

[anni]

Here's a couple to wet your whistle:

[Brian]

How do you count attendance at a vigil where few hold signs and some aren't even standing?

Ron, who recently retired, had seen us on the corner for years and decided to come tonight for the first time with a big peace symbol flag. Many only held flowers -- or guitars, three of them. Several pedestrians accepted flowers and stayed to talk. A woman crossing the street saw us and sat down on the bed to pose for a photo by her boyfriend. So my total over the three hours is 28.

There will be more to talk about, more photos to post and many more people to recognize for making this second Bed-In so successful, but first I want to thank Sharon and Bill from the Glendale Peace Vigil for bringing so much goodwill to this peaceful evening.



Actually, this guy makes it 29.

[Brian]

Hopefully, the message board contributors who made the Bed-In so homey and loving -- Roberta, Nancy and Jeanne -- will be moved in the next few days to post in this thread, because they brought so much to this event and gave to so many passersby.

Bruce drove to the downtown flower market early Friday morning to secure five dozen of the most beautiful flowers at the lowest possible price. We handed all of them out, individually, in two hours to delighted teenagers, baby strollers, dog walkers, yogurt eaters and other happy, peaceful people. Linda, who also brought cookies, and Cynthia both drove there in their pajamas. Paige keeps drawing soulful people to the vigils. None of them read the board, so I'm glad I thanked them personally. Michael as well.



My brother, who took his own digital photos and video, could prove me wrong. But no one shot of the Bed-In captures the scene or its spirit. Here are a couple more from Anni's album:



Seated from left: Jeanne, Nancy and Bill with their guitars. Cynthia and Ramon stand behind my bathrobe on the coat rack.



Occupying another patch of grass are Terry, Bill on the phone talking to his stepdaughter in Texas, me and Bruce with Connie and Nikki on Bill's leash.



Ron, Paige, Terry and Sigrid on deep background in this shot. Anni has other great photos in her album and, I suspect, yet to be downloaded.

[Jeanne]

I loved being there at the bed-in. It was great to have Bill join in the music. I was tempted to veer off into a Dylan repertoire with him but resisted. Maybe another time. I learned how dependent I am on my hearing to play and lost track of it all whenever a bus or truck went by. I have a newfound respect for rock stars.

I like the way the flowers at the memorial blended in with ours. Bruce laid a daisy at the monument. It speaks to the complications and connections inherent in these difficult issues of war and peace.

I have been setting my ideas for an historical pacifist impersonation performance art on a back burner until Bed-in is put to rest. I still like the idea. Still have the biography of Julia Ward Howe to read. I think it could help shed light on the fact that there have been great minds speaking and acting out against war throughout our history. I especially see a need for this after hearing so much simplistic sentimentality on Memorial Day about soldiers giving their lives in Vietnam for our freedom. Let me know if this interests you and what would be the best time and place for it.

Peace,
Jeanne

[Brian]

Jeanne, I still love your street performance idea and renew my offer to help organize it and do the publicity. The Bed-Ins were not only great practice for making a scene, they showed me how much we've become accepted on the corner, especially on Friday evenings. As for timing, how much consideration do you want to give to the coming summer weather? If we don't mount something by the end of June, it might be too hot to wear historical costumes or hold a crowd in July and August. Could our presentation fit into the Montrose Art Walk on the south sidewalk of Honolulu on Saturday, Sept. 5? Just my initial thoughts.

Back to Anni's photos, all taken early at the Bed-In on Friday. She could have captured more than eight people in a frame anytime during the three hours, especially towards the end, but we were enjoying ourselves too much and not thinking about the camera. Two more individual shots:



This portrait eclipses Roberta's personal radiance and withholds the glory of her martini bathrobe, but it's rather artsy, don't you think?



Linda arrives in full regalia bearing a box of cookies, something all of us have eaten in bed.

[Nancy]

How beautiful we are! Can I get copies of pix for my mom? ( & me - but I can make copies of a copy - one of them might make a good XMAS CARD this year) I'll reimburse, of course, financially, unless you want the artistic fees you're worthy of but I can't afford (not being sarcastic for a change). So Fun!!! & like you sort of said Brian, good grassroots PR. Thanks for that John &Yoko Picture; have it on my hearth for now. There's something about that picture!!! Brian, you so often say what I would say if I weren't such a spaz; you too Jeanne. Bruce, thanks for the flowers & thank all of you who didn't make me look like a derelict by coming in your sleepwear too. Thanks for the cookies, love & for all who came, stopped by..... the academy, my mother - rivet, rivet, you make me so toady. I like you're idea too Jeanne; let's do it! Bed Peace, Hair Peace, Love, Love, Love, Nancy

[Roberta]

I agree, Friday was excellent, congratulations all around. I felt like I was just along for the peaceful ride, and did little myself. Didn't even have to haul my stuff home, thanks especially Anni and Brian for that. And to all for the flowers, work, planning, errands, pastries, music, etc.

One of my excuses for not posting sooner is that I took a tumble while doing a tree-watering in the Verdugos on Sunday a.m. and stuff above the waist wasn't working very well for the rest of the day. Also Dr. Queen's prescription of hot baths and cold beer kept me pretty busy.

I too support Jeanne's persons of peace tableau idea. Thinking about a date when there will be extra people in Montrose, there are 2 Montrose "Art Walks" coming up, on July 11 and Sept. 5, which are both Saturdays -- www.montrosechamber.org/artwalk.html . (Not to be confused with their Art/Craft Fairs, the next one being this weekend. I think maybe another later in the summer, but can't find it on the Shopping Park or Chamber websites.)

I am not suggesting we need to apply as participants, but rather exercise our free speech in a public space rights.

And might as well go ahead and throw in the kitchen sink. The organization Glendale Education/Social Justice Advocates which Sharon W. and I are part of, will have a booth at Cruise Night, in downtown Glendale on Saturday night, July 18th. We need volunteers at the booth, to help run the "Peace & Justice" roulette game, dispense prizes for same, along with political outreach of course. Classic cars and progressive politics make for a fun evening, believe me. Let me know if you want to join in or are interested in more information.

[anni]

Michael and his brand new book!


And Maddy the Magician ready to check you out!

[Jeanne]

Thanks Brian for suggestions on our performance art plans.

I think the first thing is to come up with a name for it that is not too cumbersome. Something with a good acronym.
PIP=Pacifist Interpretation Presentations.
PHP=Pacifist History Plays.
STEP=Street Theater Educational Program.
AWOL=Acting, Witnessing, Openly, Loudly.
CIAO=Characters Infectiously Acting Out

I could go on and on, but let's move on. I think the art sale on 9/5 would be good. That way a few of us could check out the one in July and explore and plan some physical aspects of the project. Renting a space might lend some legitimacy to our show, or not. I'm not too worried about the heat. We can adjust our fabrics to the setting. I imagine that Julia Ward Howe wore wool in Boston, but I can find cotton.

I am not in a hurry for this. I want to grow into it. If the war is over in September, we can give our characters some credit for that. I gratefully accept your offer, Brian to help organize, as I am OC=Organizationally Challenged.

Peace,

Jeanne