Vigils in December 2021

[Brian]

Mike engineered the framework that put the Peace Train on wheels for first time in the 2013 parade.

The 2021 Montrose Christmas Parade that was scheduled for today was canceled for a second year because of the pandemic last August, and that decision looks prescient with a new Covid variant circulating now.   But the Peace Train couldn't remain out of public view any longer.  We displayed the front panel during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil, which probably accounts for the many honks and waves that we got from fewer passing vehicles on a chilly evening with very light foot and wheel traffic.

Even better, the reappearance of the Peace Train's locomotive drew Paige and Barb back to the corner after long absences.  They accompanied Roberta and Jeanne, who walked the panel along the sidewalk on Honolulu Avenue all the way from Roberta's garage (and back afterwards).  Janice returned for the first time since the pandemic started, giving the vigil a total of 12 participants.

Since October 2011, we have printed and displayed every Defense Department news release announcing the deaths of soldiers, Marines, sailors and Airmen in our many ongoing military operations around the world.  The Pentagon reported no uniformed U.S. casualties in the previous seven days.

[anni]

Here's proof of our strong hearts:

"

[Brian]

Given my choice of parking spaces along Ocean View Boulevard, I had my first clue that it would be pretty lonely during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  The eight regulars who came to the corner found the streets and sidewalks nearly empty at times.  The cold weather might have been at least partially responsible for the lack of traffic, which resembled last December near the height of the pandemic.  The pedestrians who passed us, many of whom were wearing masks, were friendly yet I heard just one honk in 90 minutes, and it was initiated by a guy who shouted "more wars."

In the previous seven days, the Department of Defense reported no military deaths in Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq and Syria or in any of the other named U.S. operations underway around the world.

[Brian]

I don't think that vigil co-founder Nancy has ever missed more than two vigils in a row since the first one in January 2006, so when we didn't see her for a third week last Friday, I called her.  Everything's O.K. -- Nancy worked late last Friday and had a dinner engagement the week before.  We'll probably see her again on the 17th.

[Brian]

Traffic was back to normal during this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil.  Lines of cars stretching beyond the banks along Honolulu Avenue waited for the eastbound traffic light at the intersection of Ocean View Boulevard to change to green.  Teenagers on scooters and skateboards glided past us on the sidewalks.  The steel drum guy was busking again near the Vietnam War memorial.  And we got the honks and waves from passing vehicles that we missed so much last week.

One dozen regulars came to the corner.  At least three of this week's participants won't be able to attend next week's vigil on Christmas Eve for various holiday related reasons.  The long range weather forecasts predict that it will rain.

No U. S. military deaths were reported in the previous seven days.

[anni]

The shopping park association's nutcracker after his first unveiling in November 2018.

The Vigils in December 2021 thread would not be complete without mentioning that we're sharing the corner for the fourth consecutive holiday season. The nutcracker attracts lots of delighted attention from kids.

[Brian]

Dec 18, 2021 0:00:20 GMT -8 Brian said:

The long range weather forecasts predict that it will rain [at next Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil].

That prediction held up for a few days. Now the radar forecasts that the light showers are clearing this morning, so we may only get a spritz between 5:30 and 7 tonight if we see any drops at all. The temperature will be 51 degrees with no wind worth mentioning.

The last time -- and the only time -- that Christmas Eve took place on a Friday in our nearly 16 years of uninterrupted vigils was 2010.  In the post I wrote that night on the message board, I noted that the ten of us "often outnumbered the pedestrians and vehicles."

[Brian]

On Christmas Eve, no cars were parked on Ocean View Boulevard.  With virtually every business closed, pedestrians were few.  We got some honks from the sparse and intermittent vehicle traffic.  And only a brief light drizzle or two fell on the corner.

Six stalwarts were able to make it to this Friday's Montrose Peace Vigil despite the holiday: Roberta, Jeanne, Jim, Bruce, Anni and me.

For the 17th week in a row, the Pentagon reported no U.S. casualties.

[Brian]

Our vigil on New Year's Eve 2021 ended the year exactly as it began: on the holiday weekend with Covid infections setting a new record in Los Angeles County. Traffic was better than Christmas Eve, and we received much more goodwill from passersby. We got as many honks and waves in the first ten minutes as we had last week in an hour and a half. A woman from La Crescenta parked and came up to us, passing out tangerines from the tree in her backyard. Some pedestrians wished us a Happy New Year and even read our signs out loud, such as Peace Is Victory.

Roberta, Jeanne, Bruce, Jim, Anni and I held signs or candles during this week's Montrose Peace Vigil. Here's my weekly headcount of the total participants:

• Dec. 3 - 12
• Dec. 10 - 8
• Dec. 17 - 12
• Dec. 24 - 6
• Dec. 31 - 6

This month's weekly average rounds up to 9 participants, after averaging 10 in November, 12 in October, 22 in September and 30 in August (when we were joined by anti-recall demonstrators), 11 in July, 17 in June, 11 in May, 10 in April, 9 in March, 8 in February, 7 in January 2021 and 7 in December 2020. Twelve peaceniks was our average attendance for many years before the pandemic.

The Department of Defense reported no casualties in the previous seven days.