#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream
Franklin Park, Boston
“This is a matter of life and death because restricting access doesn’t mean that people will stop having abortions,” Representative Ayanna Pressley told the crowd at Franklin Park Playstead. “It means they’ll stop having safe, legal abortions.”
Another bright blue October sky. Charlie was upset, but I knew someone else was available to take him for his walk. I slipped out a side door. I had it in my heart to get off by myself this morning and take a run. I ran to Farm Pond, to the beach. I needed another swim under this fabulous sky, this cool but sun-warmed morning. It was glorious. I didn’t hesitate at all, after yesterday; I knew it would be warm enough. Once again, after ten strokes, it was. Instinctively, I swam toward the island. The only one in the water, but some bikers had just left the water and were leaving the beach. I knew I wanted to head toward the island. But, for safety, I swam along the tree-shadowed side of the pond. I wanted to swim to my friend’s dock. Well, it’s not hers anymore, of course, but that’s where I went. It was so quiet, and the water so smooth. I had my buoy on, of course. I tagged her dock, and swam back. I missed her and our summer swims. Knowing she is so happy where she has moved makes me happy. I swam back to the beach in the sunshine and loved that I had the sand all to myself. Then I ran home on the street, because I could, because I didn’t have Charlie. I also had it in my heart today that I needed to go to the abortion rights rally being held in Boston at Franklin Park. The last time I went to a pro-choice rally was decades ago, 1985. I called in sick to work and spoke at the rally and was interviewed by the local paper and my picture and interview got into the paper and one of my bosses saw it! And I thought, oh no, well, might have just lost my job, but, in fact, he just applauded my courage to speak out. Well, I thought I’d be heading in alone, but my youngest was home and after walking Charlie said she’d come with me, which was wonderful, and we drove into the city and found parking and walked to Franklin Park and it was pretty special to hear Maura Healey and Ayanna Pressley and Ed Markey was about to speak, but we had to leave early for my daughter to get to an appointment she had. In the late afternoon, I picked green tomatoes in the garden next to the field and the grass was gold in the sunshine and I have no pumpkins or butternut, but there is another eggplant purpling on the vine. When I was listening to the speakers on the stage, I had an astonishing realization: today, Oct. 2, is the anniversary of a safe and legal procedure I chose to have over four decades ago to end an unwanted pregnancy.
Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Franklin Park, Boston
Farm Pond
