Missing Out!

I have been a dedicated Prop 8 sign waver for the past week, and today I have been defeated by sickness. It could be worse and just the fear of that has kept me home this morning. I am not so much worried about me as I am worried about Corban and Jared. I really would hate to get either of them sick right now...but I think Jared is already on his way.

So instead of standing on a corner this morning, I thought I would share excerpts of Liz Agle's "Prop 8 Center" post wave wrap-ups:

Wed. 10/15

Tonight's sign waving went well, though I must confess I was expecting a few more people. I had a blast with Cole Oross and his friend, Taylor, on one corner, while Jared and Amanda Crane (with Corban, bless his little heart and to-die-for eyes) and Amber Price covered the block kitty-corner to us. According to Cole and Taylor, we got 26 negatives reactions directed at our corner including thumbs down, mouthed "no's," shaking heads, screams and yells, birdies (not the nice ones you feed crackers and teach to speak), and one man who held up traffic to educate us about the folly of our ways. However, the positive reactions far outweighed the negatives. We were honked at and waved to, smiled at and whooped on, and praised and blessed. If you haven't tried this yet, you definitely need to come on down and stake out a corner with us. Especially if you can finagle a spot next to Cole and Taylor, they're a riot! Seriously though, all the bad stuff seems to just roll right off your back as you smile and wave back at the protesters, but when you get a positive reaction, you feel like you're on top of the world!

Fri 10/17 Morning

You must know that this morning at our stakeout by the 56 freeway entrance (right there at Carl's Jr and the car wash), we had 10 people show up!! 10!! I am such a proud Prop 8 mama, let me tell you.... Our numbers are growing and I am especially proud of those who are uncomfortable with doing this, but come anyway because they know how important it is. We got tons of honks, waves, thumbs up, head nods, and even an armored truck siren as he went by (I've never heard one of those before). You can tell that people really appreciate the effort we are making to protect marriage between a man and a woman. Some people even hang out their cars to yell "God bless you" as they drive by.

A simple list of reasons for you to shake off your timidity and join us on the corner tonight:

Emotional boost = What could be better than having countless people drive by waving, smiling, honking, and hollering their support for something you also believe in so strongly?

Mental boost = What could be better than standing on a corner with your friends, discussing Prop 8 and having your commitment to this cause be strengthened by a common bond

Physical boost = After three days of doing this morning and evening, I can honestly say that Prop 8 sign waving will give your arms the best workout they've ever had, bar none!!

Spiritual boost = This is where God wants you to be (and I don't mean sign waving, exactly - if you're out there doing phone calls or walking, you are also responding to His call to arms). I have not one single doubt about that. Period.

Fri 10/17 Evening

My dearest, fellow Prop 8ers,

This hour marks the close of the happiest day of my Prop 8 life thus far. I forgot to mention in my previous email today, that as we finished up our sign waving for the morning rush hour, a male pedestrian approached us and, while expressing his deep gratitude for our service, handed us a bag full of ice cold bottled water. He had driven by earlier, honking his horn and giving us thumbs up. Then he circled back and in a perfect gesture of camaraderie, offered his assistance to us by quenching our thirst. See, I told you there's an emotional boost here.

So, let's move on to tonight's little victories. As I set up camp on the corner this evening, the Wilcox family approached with some homemade signs made by our very own Tami. One sported a very important message "Prop 8 doesn't take ANY rights away" and the other served to, shall we say, rally the troops a bit. Well, really, the second had a two fold mission. In this simple request, "Honk if you like Prop 8," we were able to not only effect a cacophonous symphony of automotive horns, but we also eliminated the opposition's method of drawing attention to it's fingers and thumbs and frowns. Utterly and completely foiled, they were. You are brilliant, Tami! We were also blessed with a car full of youth who kept circling back to come through our intersection over and over blasting their horn and screaming out their windows in support of Prop 8. Bless them, whoever they are. I would love to adopt them.

And with her professional skills, here is Liz's recruiting ad:

Mon 10/20

So, you remember a couple (maybe 30) e-mails ago when I said I'd had the best day of my Prop 8 life so far? Well tonight, that day got trumped...big time. I arrived at Penasquitos Dr. and Carmel Mt. Rd. tonight and set up shop, getting the boys comfortable and safe in their stroller with snacks and drinks, then headed to the sidewalk armed with a Prop 8 sign in each hand. Enter Field of Dreams: "If you build it, they will come." Well, I didn't actually build anything, but I think through word-of-mouth and the positive experience of others, we were able to encourage a record breaking attendance at "the corner" tonight. As folks arrived in groups of twos and threes, my heart swelled and my spirit soared! Now, hang onto your seat because when you hear this number, it'll knock your socks off. Twenty eight! We had 28 people come out to wave Prop 8 signs tonight!! And all from our ward, no less! Just saying I was proud doesn't cut it. I was as proud as a peacock and as pleased as punch. To quote Mater, I was "happier than a tornado in a trailer park." Sheesh, 28 people! I remember when I was the only one standing on that very same corner the first day of sign waving...just last week! And, I also remember when Vicky told me that Mira Mesa had combined with Scripps Ranch their first time out and had 30 people. I sighed in envy then, but look at us now! We're holding our own, all by ourselves and I - am - just - so - proud!!

Apart from an overwhelming attendance, we also had an overwhelmingly positive response from the automobiles. Tons of honks and waves and thumbs up! Hardly anything negative, though I'm sure that's in part due to Tami's wonderful "Honk if you like Prop 8" sign. They just can't get the attention they want. :) Hooray! We have discovered that we need some new signs, though. A few people have asked what exactly voting "yes" would mean, so we've proposed a new sign that says "Yes on Prop 8 = one man + one woman."

Here were some pictures I (Amanda) took that night. Corban had a great time with Gus Zanini, to whom I am eternally grateful since my arms are already starting to really feel the burn from holding up signs.

We have now seen the opposition; however, we had no idea what their sign said. Those who were on that side with them said that it said "8= (scribbles because they messed up) Vote No on Prop 8". The latter portion, which was their point, was written in pencil. I don't know that they had much impact that night.

Tues 10/21

A fellow sign waver said to me the other day (or maybe it was this morning - my Prop 8 days sort of blur together), "Just think of all the stories we're going to walk away with from Prop 8." I have often thought the same. The defenders of traditional marriage are just pouring out of the woodwork in droves now. I want to be able to tell my children's children that I did all I could to protect marriage in 2008. This morning, I witnessed firsthand one of those inspiring stories of someone going the extra mile...literally.

Everyone meet Claire. Claire is now part of our e-mail list and is a most welcome addition. Claire showed up this morning about 45 minutes after we started. She came toting a "Yes on Prop 8" yard sign stuck to a stiff poster board. As her story unfolded, I was humbled by the presence of a Prop 8 giant. This woman had seen groups around holding support Prop 8 signs and she wanted to join in, but didn't know who to contact. So, this morning, she loaded her makeshift sign into her car and set off driving around until she found a group to join. Claire is from Poway!! We were thrilled to have her this morning and welcome her presence anytime she is able.

And that's the wrap-up. Liz has been such an example through this all. what she didn't mention about yesterday is that she had been up all hours of the night with a sick child. Nothing will stop this warrior!

She is also good to not dwell on the negative responses we receive, to which I will just make a few comments so those not living on the battle grounds can have an idea of how this might be difficult for the timid. We get plenty of middle fingers, sometimes subtle (one girl passed by rubbing her forehead with her middle finger) but most of the time very blatant, plenty of vulgar language, yesterday was the first time I heard someone yell "homophobes", and just a few loud and obscene remarks , one on Monday that was so descriptive that I believe gave every reason to vote YES (along the lines of "I should be able to marry my dog" and on he continued). Most of the negative response comes from a shaking of the head, shaking of the finger, a thumbs down, or no acknowledgement that we are there. The latter are what I see as being tolerant of people expressing their opinion and I greatly respect them for being respectful of us.