I went to the candlelight vigil tonight, to commemorate the loss of over 2000 of our people in Bushco’s hostile takeover of Iraq. It was held in the sunken gardens of our beautiful county courthouse. I’m bushed – I guess we all are. But before I go to bed, I have these thoughts and images.

This was a fine group of caring people, willing to give of themselves to speak out against this atrocity of this war, and I was glad to be among them. My friend Erik was there, and he introduced me to some great people I’ve heard about, read about in the paper and seen on local TV. They are making a difference. But very little was said about the 2002 who are dead. The vigil host – an educator – asked us to think about what we can do to create peace, and to discuss our thoughts among ourselves. He said don’t talk about blaming the government, how much we hate the warmongers, etc. I imagine the dead were in people’s thoughts while we stood in silence. But I think this loss is just cause for an outpouring of national grief. Can someone out there show how to mourn?

There was one woman there with a small boy. I’m thinking her grandson. He was asking her many questions about what we were doing and why, and why people in cars were honking at us as we by the street. They passed close enough for me to hear his small voice clearly: “The question is, how will these candles do it?”

I thought that was a most excellent question, and I almost turned and followed to hear what Grandma had to say. For me, every butterfly matters, even if only resting on the temple bell. Or on a cannon.

[note: It’s hard to take a long exposure with one hand while hot wax is dripping on the other. I’ll get better at it.]