Today honors the civil rights and anti Vietnam war figure
He came out for civil rights and against the Vietnam war, both unpopular positions at the time, but he stood fast.
It's a national holiday and our local library, under its first director, used to stay open anyway, because the library stands for universal literacy and equal access. This seemed appropriate, to stay open on a day a lot of people would be free to come in. That principle has given way to the holiday aspect since the pandemic, a loss, I think.
Meanwhile it's a day of service and my part will be more sock knitting for the Sock and Glove Ministry.
When I worked in a nonprofit organization, we dreaded local corporate executives' being given a day for service! It meant an increase in our already heavy workload, trying to devise single day projects that could be undertaken safely by untrained well-meaning folk, then supervising them.
They wanted to do things like lead support groups, and were taken aback when we couldn't turn over any existing groups, confidential and run by highly qualified professionals.
Or they wanted to paint and renovate, meaning expecting us to provide walls, paint, ladders, brushes, rollers, etc. And negotiate with the staff whose contracted job it was.
Or they wanted to do childcare in the nursery, and didn't have the police background check we all needed before we set foot in any building with children's programs.
It was all such a good idea on paper. And it was an eye opener to them to find that our professional staff had at least two degrees each. We did try to accommodate them with tasks that worked out, but it was a bit aspirational as an idea. We did get a group one year to sort and organize the craft room, which was a win-win, everybody happy, no harm done, no insurance issues.
Back to now, here's the weaving, fringes knotted and trimmed, ready to become a combo cowl/scarf.
Happy day, everyone, keep warm, or cool, or dry, or hold onto your hat, whichever applies.
Photo AC
