Stand up

[tedwords]

As we were driving through North Eldredge Friday afternoon (just a half mile from Josie's place, which I used to call the Homestead), we came across an appalling sight: four  Trump supports at a busy intersection holding up Trump and "All Lives Matter" signs.

It was gratifying to see the number of people beeping and holding up their middle finger as they passed by. 

Of course, we yelled out things, too. I think it was a family: two really old people in their 80s and two folks in their 50s. Two men and two women. The old geezer guy held a sign that said "Veterans for Trump" on the other side of an "All Lives Matter" sign, which is the one he loved holding up and moving menacingly towards cars with. He was also wearing a bullet-proof vest, which we thought was funny. Talk about having courage in your convictions. 

I yelled out "Trump thinks dead vets are losers." He said something I couldn't understand.

On the way back from the store we did the same thing. And as we were driving home Corb said, with quiet conviction. "I am going back there." 

"What?" This was not how I expected our Friday night to go. "Why?"

"I am going to make a Black Lives Matter sign and hold it up across the street from  them," he said. "I don't want people of color new to Eldredge to think that's how everyone feels here. It's ridiculous and insulting and someone has to do something."

 "Are you sure..?" So many thoughts ran through my head. That old guy with the bullet proof vest seemed crazy. Would something happen? Did he want me to go? Did I feel safe going? What if I didn't go? Ugh, this was so unexpected! 

Determined, he made his sign as we kept talking about it. I still was on the fence about going. You have to understand, I am not a confrontational kind of guy like that. I love being on the stage (as everyone knows), but situations like this have always filled me with anxiety, for some reason. I'm sure it's the "kid picked on in middle school" syndrome (which is all the more reason to stand up to bullies.).  

"You don't have to go," he said. "But I'm kind of disappointed."

With that, he left. Disappointed? In me? 

Frantically, I texted one of our friends, Val, who has done several protests, to get her perspective. 

Her advice: "I'm proud of him for going! Also...don't feel bad to not go. We do what we can when we can and if for you that's not going out there right now, that's okay. Sam has never gone to any protests cause he's always worried about going, and he worries about me. But don't worry about Corb: fortunately a very tall white guy in Eldredge will be just fine."

Corb returned home about an hour later, but he was texting me throughout. Turns out, when he arrived there and started moving to the corner across from where they were protesting, he discovered a younger women  standing at his corner. He approached her cautiously. Then she turned around: she had a hand made sign of her own: Black Lives Matter. A smile lit up his face.

"I ran to the local CVS to make a sign right the minute I saw them," she explained to him. "I just had to do something. My boyfriend is waiting in our car with our kids. He was nervous to go, too, just like your partner." 

The thing is? As soon as the two of them stood there, holding their BLM signs in solidarity, the Trumpies for some reason decided to put down their signs, gathered together, and drove away. 

I like to say Corb drove them away. Corb hates it when I say that. 

But he will admit (with pride) that unlike all the people honking and giving the Trumpies the middle finger, his experience was far different. People beeped and waved encouragement, pulled over and gave them the thumbs up. One women with two six year old kids pulled over and they were all jumping up and down and supporting them. 

"This is what makes it worth it," the lady said to Corb. 

My guy, who wouldn't set foot on stage if you paid him, totally agreed. Funny how that works out. 

PS: we did kiss and make up. 

And now, we have two hand-made posters in the back of Corb's truck, ready in case they are needed. And who knows? Next time, I'm thinking I may join him. Who knows? We may end up being Eldredge's version of the two husbands on Grace and Frankie...