Busy Saturday, with some highs and some lows. We started the day with grocery shopping and then swung by Walgreens to pick up some small items for the grandkids' small easter baskets I'm putting together for next weekend. After the groceries were unloaded we went to the bike shop to get new tires and tubes. The shop was about 2.5 miles straight west from the State Capitol where​ the No Kings rally was going to be held. We got there right after the shop opened at 11 (such a late opening time!) and there was a ton of traffic--foot, bike and car--all heading toward the Capitol. It was so incredible to see. And on multiple corners throughout the city as we drove to and from, people were gathered on corners with signs. I didn't see a single counter-protester. (But why would we? They hide behind their keyboards and don't show their faces.)

Granddaughter's bday party was in the afternoon at a community center 1 mile north of the Capitol and I was afraid the traffic would be horrendous, but it surpringly was not bad at all. The party was okay, lots of crafts for the kids. It had a Frozen theme and granddaughter was dressed as Queen Elsa. She clomped around in fancy white patent leather Mary Janes (but insisted on wearing her pink Crocs when she went outside!) There was a playground outside the building and for some reason, before presents were opened, the grandparents on the other side decided to usher all the kids outside to the playground and we (as in my son and daughter and honey and their spouses) were left to clean up. I was disappointed that I didn't get to see her open presents (although daughter sent me a video later.) Once we got the room cleaned up we went outside to the playground. There was a group of older kids, tweens, ​hanging out and after 15 minutes outside, I heard the older kids chanting fight fight fight and two boys started going at it, fists and all. There were three community center staff there and they made a few lame attempts at separating the two boys, but it went on much longer than it should have. It was pretty ugly for all the little kids at the playground to witness and the playground emptied out pretty quickly. It just left me feeling really sad, for the boys, for the bad ending to a good bday party. I made sure my son and daughter got out of there safely with their kids, before I got in my car to go home. Once home, honey got his stuff and headed back to his house and I was alone to contend with my own feelings. I was not feeling good about having to witness that fight (12 hrs later and I am still bothered by it.) It is very triggering for me, bringing up the memories of physical abuse I had to witness/experience as a child. I don't understand physical violence to solve problems. I don't understand physical violence period. When I see two humans hitting each other, well, ​​it makes them less human to me.

I watched some videos/speeches from the rally to distract myself. I thought about going for a walk, but the wind was so strong and cold, so I didn't. So, I went to the basement instead where honey had brought my bike and I started to wash off a decade of dirt and grime from the bike. And then I decided to get those new tubes and tires put on so, I watched a YouTube video on how to do it. And did it!

Today I will adjust the brakes and grease the chain and hopefully take the bike out for a spin.