Day 179 ~ Have Wall, Will Climb

June 28, 2014

My instead: I volunteered as the Operations Director Assistant at the St. Louis Pride Festival and climbed a rock wall. 

It’s day one of the Pride Festival in St. Louis. My first assignment is to go to the florist and pick up the wreath for the wreath laying ceremony for the LGBT military. My friend Steve was the MC for this event at the Soldiers’ Memorial last year and again this year. It’s always quite emotional for those of us that attend. This ceremony represents the phenomenal victory for the people of these diverse lifestyles to be able to serve their country with pride.  

Wearing my orange “ambassador” shirt, I took on the honorable role of assistant to the Operations Director, Steve. We busied ourselves with the last minute odds and ends that seemed to increase instead of decrease. The energy and the pride was exuding from everyone there. No more bags on heads to hide identities, no more police raids, no more bashing and no more closets…just people wanting acceptance and inclusion.

As the day’s burden lessened its hold on us, Steve and I actually began to feel the fun. We decided to go for it and climb a rock wall. It was his idea and I immediately said “I’m doing it too!” He took the lead and went up the medium and difficult courses. As I watched and took the photos, I prepared myself mentally for my turn. I would do the easy course, of course! A young black women tried it ahead of me and couldn’t do it. She kept saying she did it at boot camp but could not do it now because she was too drunk. Seriously? Well, I wasn’t drunk. I climbed up in seconds and then rode the rope down. Whooh! I could have done it more and even tried the more difficult courses…but I didn’t want to show off. ;-)  I am so thankful that I could do this. How many people my age and much younger that cannot do this stuff…they don’t know what they’re missing.