Sucking the grid

Most of us have heard the term but I re-experienced the sucking when we hit Detroit and were separated by a distance of 5 miles from our village. Distance without a bike. Dependent on the city bus (which was a great way to meet people that live in Detroit!) But the tent city where everyone was sleeping, hanging out, launching into seeing the city via their bikes and friendships, was something we did not do. It was the journey that counted, someone said, and I agree.

Each day from Sunday till yesterday, me and the kids tried to start fresh and head to Cobo Hall where the US Social Forum was happening. Our final reason for leaving yesterday via Amtrak was the lack of support and unfriendliness of the forum itself. Next time, the next one will be better!

Conferences, are a great way to get people together. This was the most diverse economic, racial, geographical, lives of choice, I have ever been to, but where was the food and music? The distances were too great and the costs too high to make it easy to feel as one. The opening parade was the most we could ask for when bringing together 18,000 people, right?

I start this essay off by talking about the grid, because without food and community support, the single family unit, or individuals are lost and paying out the rear to "feel" soothed. Nothing was as Utopian as our traveling bike caravan. Biking to Detroit was easy compared to traveling without a bike in the city. We can't wait till the next GRC this summer, with Seth!

With love,
MJ