Little things mean a lot

HE SAID:

Since the Legislature is adjourned until Tuesday, the weather is terrible, and I'm coming down with a cold, I'm taking the day off today. 

But I wanted to share a special moment from the time I spent on the Square yesterday. With the mixture of sleet, rain and snow I figured correctly that not many protesters would be inclined to march outside. So I deliberately dressed with that in mind: boots, rain pants, down jacket and rain hat. Over all of that I wore the rain poncho that John Nichols brought back for Linda from the 1999 World Trade Organization protest in Seattle Washington: "The Protest of the Century." Well, that was last century!

Compared to the several thousand protesters inside, there were maybe a hundred hearty souls, including one elderly woman with a walker, marching the eight blocks around the Capitol. We were encouraged once in a while by a driver with a raised fist and a honking horn. Then from several blocks away we heard the loud insistent blast of an air horn, joined by a second. Two City of Madison snow plows were driving side by side sounding their horns continuously as they made their way — not once, but twice — completely around the square, spreading road salt as they went.

It was a beautiful gesture that went a long way toward taking the chill off the day.

SHE SAID: I thought of those two guys as I was tossing and turning this morning at 1:30 a.m. and heard the snowplow scrape past our house.

You can find a minute-by-minute account of what's happening here at Madison's weekly publication, Isthmus.

And a nice history of how Wisconsin gave you the weekend and worker's comp, among many benefits ALL workers enjoy today.

Comments

[Jeanne Heuer]

Being a Wisconsite, a former union officer and a librarian that belongs to the State Retirement system, I have truly enjoyed your posts and pictures of the protests in Madison. I wonder when Mr Walker will figure out I am a taxpayer too?

[Timberland Footwear]

well this blog is great i love reading your articles.