[Just in case an FYI is needed: Boston held one of the estimated 1,200 “Hands Off!” protests around the United States on Saturday protesting the actions and policies of Trump and Musk.]

It is 4 pm, ukelele ensemble time at Berklee, and we made it!

We left home just after nine this morning to get downtown and a hoped-for parking space near the Berklee building on Fenway. We scored that parking space and left instruments in the locked car. Then we walked to Boston Common, grabbing breakfast at the Eatery before we made our way to the Embrace Memorial to meet our FUUSN group.  When we got there, the crowd was crazy big and I had no idea of how we would find them. The memorial seemed to be the place that everyone, just everyone decided to meet. Thank goodness, for a very tall friend!  It was good to find a pod of friends to walk with.

The plan was for demonstrators to “march” to City Hall Plaza for a rally with some impressive speakers.  By the time the crowd began to move, it was marching only in our imaginations.  We moved like rainwater on a windshield.  A group here and there  taking a few steps forward, joining the flow, some people holding firm until the momentum was strong enough to sweep them into the steady stream becoming a river running down the streets.

We shuffled forward, slowly down the streets, pushed and separated from our friends, losing parts of our group and being completely surprised that we found someone again in another block or two. By the time we were close to City Hall Plaza, there were announcements that the plaza was full and the speakers could be heard from other streets. I don’t think we were anywhere near the end of the march.

It also began raining—well, it had been lightly sprinkling for awhile—in earnest.  The crowd’s chanting was noisy—someone using a cowbell very effectively was really bothering Julia.  She said that she had enough and as it happened we were right in front of a T stop. It was the perfect time to stop walking, take the T to Newbury Street and finding a place for lunch.

I was so proud that Julia managed herself in the crowd.  She only complained a little bit, about noise and the rain, also a runny nose.  My handfull of klenex was very useful. She was great about catching the crowded T, even when we got on in the wrong direction and had to double back.

It was strange to walk down Newbury street after we left the demonstration.  Newbury is usually crowded and sometimes Julia is not patient there; however, compared to the demonstration, it was almost empty and we could move freely. 

After some lunch, we walked back to Berklee, retrieved her instruments and went to her class.  

Julia played for her uke ensemble and now is playing cello for trio work.  Again, I am impressed and proud of her. It has been a long day, a very long day, and she has managed so very well.