I’ve only recently attended one protest rally so far but I’m sure I’ll be going to many more. For the sake on my children and grandchildren, I think it’s essential to object to the actions that seem to be happening with great rapidity to limit our democratic institutions and Constitutional rights, weaken the rule of law, and place many people at risk both for their livelihoods, their health and even their lives.

At the one protest rally I attended, there were certainly other people who were my age–or older. There were obviously younger people. But I was tremendously heartened to see so many of us were clearly retirees. Some held a protest sign in one hand and a cane in the other. As a demographic group, we have time to call our representatives, phone bank, write post cards, and get out to protest. And, of course, we vote.

But I reflect on the fact that I honestly didn’t expect to be holding up a protest sign in my 8th decade of life.