March 24, 1968
by Amy
Last night, Abbie and Jerry announced that they were having a “Festival of Life.” Music, happenings, the works. Then, they left. We could join them, if we wanted. Rather than focusing on our thing, we could be a part of theirs – which was bound to be a happier thing.
“Why do you keep charging yourself like that, man.” One of his group told me on the way out the door. “You’re a cool chick, you should come with us.”
“You can’t let yourself go enough,” Lesley nudged me. “You’re way too serious for that.”
I am, I admit it. “You wear the weight of the world right here,” Abbie told me once. I would’ve liked to have been clever enough with a response, but I couldn’t come up with one. So I left it alone and let it hang there. Abbie now remembers me as “The serious one.” That’s what he calls me.
I don’t hate that he calls me that. I hate that he’s right.
The biggest surprise so far has been Coleman. He’s actively campaigning for us to disrupt the convention. He argued for it at one point. Didn’t make much headway except with the people who already thought that. His speech wasn’t very effective, and I think it even caught Glasses off-guard. It directly went against what we’re about. He knows that. I know that.
Afterward, Dave Dellinger took Coleman to the side. I heard Coleman say something about being frustrated. I think Dave talked to him for a good 15 minutes.
The whole thing was odd to say the least. Where was all that violence coming from?
