This past January was the first time I attended the
March for Life in
Washington, D.C. Afterwards, I felt giddy for weeks. There is something
about the energy of that many people coming together in defense of life
that galvanizes you.
While we were all hoping there wouldn’t need to be another March,
it’s looking like 2013 is not the year we end abortion. So we’re gonna
march again on January 22, 2014. And nothing will make it better or more
meaningful than having you – yes,
you – show up.
So why am I writing this in October and not January? Because if
you’re going to come (please come!) you need to start preparing yourself
now.
Here are my tips and tricks for preparing for (and getting the most out of) your March for Life experience.
If
you buy this for me, perhaps at the 2014 March for Life I shall be
indistinguishable from a beautiful golden lioness in my The North Face
Gotham Jacket in Tanzania Tan.
1. Buy warm stuff.
I am from Texas. I don’t know what cold means. Not really. I showed
up in what I previously thought was a “warm” coat, only to find it about
as effective as a light cardigan against the 18-degrees-and-snowing
weather. On the day of the March, you may spend several hours in the
elements, and you’ll walk a long way.
Destiny and I were miserable.
Miserable. We got cold enough that we felt sick, and it took us hours to warm up.
Dying of hypothermia is not pro-life. So even if you have to borrow
or thrift, get real cold-weather gear. And don’t neglect your feet.
(Note: In the snow, cowboy boots are not your friends.)
The lobby of this Hyatt Regency will be crawling with pro-lifers, and you can be one of them.
2. Find a hotel room.
This one is self-explanatory. About half a million people will be
converging on Our Nation’s Capitol. Book a room now. For extra-super
fun, share with a friend or friends. I shared with Destiny two nights
and
Jewels Green
one, and it was probably a little too much of a good time. (Jewels
brought me coffee in the morning. You should room with her if you can.)
“Hi, taxi! I love you!” – Me
3. Take taxis.
Start saving now. Get a jar and write “TAXI” on it, and put as much
money in there as you can. Skip meals if you have to. Because the Metro
is scary and confusing. Everyone moves way too fast and the thingy where
you buy the tickets is terrifying in its complexity. I have used subway
systems in New York and San Francisco, and I don’t know if it was the
hypothermia affecting my brain or what, but the D.C. train was baffling
and horrible.
So I spent most of my allotted funds on taxis, and I enjoyed it like
you wouldn’t believe. I had only been in a cab a dozen or so times
before last January, but I’ve always enjoyed it. I like it when people
do stuff for me so I can think about squirrels in Christmas hats or
whatever else happens to be going through my mind.
Anyway, I had a great discussion about abortion with one of my taxi
drivers, and I shared cabs with lots of interesting pro-lifers I only
knew because they’re famous on the Internet.
If you want to be frugal and rad and take the train, hey. You do that. But I am a taxi girl and I’ll stay a taxi girl.
Destiny, Jewels, and me. Those gals are my heroes.
4. Meet people.
That’s the best part about this thing. We’re there to make a
statement and send a message (if the press bothers to report that
there’s a march happening), but we’re also there to encourage and edify
each other. Here’s a statement that will make you say “duh”: being a
pro-life activist, writer, student, or whatever, isn’t easy. Sometimes
you feel isolated or burned out. You feel like you’re alone, or you’re
out of ideas.
The March will pep you up. You’ll make connections. You’ll think of new projects. You’ll even
Dance on Injustice.
You’ll also meet pro-life people you only know from the Internet. Come meet me, for instance. I’m nice.
This is basically how I packed last year. Don’t do this.
5. Plan ahead.
Start doing some research on all the events that are happening that
week and weekend so you can take advantage of your time in D.C. There is
way more to do than just the March – the Rose Dinner, the Youth Rally,
the Law Conference, the totally incredible Dance On Injustice, and so
much more. You can register for many events – and book your hotel room –
at the
March for Life website.
But don’t stop there! Start doing your research. Google, Facebook,
and ask your friends. There is so much to learn and so many connections
to make that week.
You’ve got plenty of time to save up, book a hotel and a flight, get
some warm clothes, and come out to an event that will change your life
if you let it. Join us. March for Life with Live Action this January. I
promise you’ll be glad you did.
Source: LiveAction News
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