Sarah Long Writes

I’ve never been the most political person, and I definitely would call my self more of a laziest than an activist.  Up until now, the farthest I’ve delved into the world of voicing political opinion has been through a particularly dusty dystopian manuscript I wrote a few years ago and kind of forgot about.

But for some reason I decided to add “participate in a peaceful protest” to my Things To Do Before I Turn 30 Bucket List. Maybe I was on a caffeine kick at the time, or my blood sugar was low and I wasn’t aware of what I was writing anymore.

Regardless, the only way to keep myself from pulling out my hair and running around screaming in terror at my upcoming age shift is to keep focused on this list, so I decided to go to the only political event I’d probably ever care about: The March For Science.

Because Science.

The actual march was scheduled for 11 AM in D-Town LA. That would require me to wake up at around 8. On a Saturday. Anyway, my “real” excuse was that I had to drop off my dog for his quarterly fur-sheering that morning (he was particularly frustrated at me for this, so it took longer to un-stick him from the opposite end of the car than normal).

I decided to be extra environmentally friendly by taking the subway down. (Reality: I hate driving in LA). Thankfully, a bunch of other science-loving people had the same idea, so all I had to do was follow the home-made signs to my destination: The Front Of City Hall.

I’d imagined huge shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.

Millions of posters.

Screaming.

Gas masks.

Maybe some cops hanging around with tasers at the ready.

I fantasized about all of that invigorating me, turning me into the type of political activist that I’d always admired, but could never be. I’d start screaming and waving signs and maybe even do a crowd surf or two (if that’s a thing?).

When I got there though, I began having my doubts.

I mean, I guess I did want it to be a peaceful protest. It felt a little more like a street fair with awesome-pun signs than a political gathering. There were more crowds in front of the food trucks than city hall.

To be fair, I did show up around lunchtime, and a good half-hour after the main march ended. But speeches and stuff were scheduled to continue until 4, and everyone was beginning to leave. I haven’t yet talked to a few friends who went in the morning, so maybe it was just really meant to be packed earlier rather than later.

Anyway, get ready for my biggest regret of the year: There was a man with a Beaker puppet. People were taking pictures with him. All I wanted was one glorious photo to hold me over for the rest of my life.

But I’m slow to ask for things. I have to gather up courage. By the time I did, unfortunately, the guy was halfway down the road and heading home.

That said, I may need to add a new item to my bucket list.

Anyone else go to a March for Science? Did I show up too late or something? Or did I have unrealistic expectations of what a real protest is like?

(And yes, I know I’m not posting this on a Friday, but it’s my blog, so I do what I want.)