OCCUPYING DELAWARE: Baby it's cold outside.

Frustration is running high and strength low this week. We've thrown ourselves into winterizing the occupation. It's a good plan; using cast-off pallets and thinning a bamboo forest for materials. But it takes man-power and careful planning between the Tues/Wed rainstorms that seem to happen each week. Slowly but surely, the tents are above ground on a double layer of pallets and protected by an tarp covered bamboo A-frame. Those of us who spend multiple days at a time there are individually finding ways to insulate our tents to maximize body heat and minimize wind. So far, it seems to be working.

Resources are dwindling. Because the "story" now is our preparations, and not our actions, we've left the media focus...which is fine, for now...but what it means is that donations have slowed to a trickle. The city refuses to turn on the electricity in the plaza (we'd pay a reasonable fee, I'm sure) and we are forbidden to use anything with an open flame. There is no way to heat food until we get access to a nearby church. At the beginning, we were fortunate to get some donated coffee and hot water. We still do, but a good deal of the time, when it's needed, one of the Occupiers will run out and buy it.

The blankets are nearly gone, between Occupiers and the homeless that come through. We also give them a canned good and some of those ramen noodles if they are hungry, because we can't heat them up anyway.

It sounds grim, but there are successes. Locally, we've seen our governor consider saying no to fracking. We've spoken to or been visited by church groups, youth groups, and organizations who are receptive and supportive of our mission. Nationally; we see a lot of hiccups going into election season. Both parties are stumbling around trying to figure out how to answer to the jobs crisis, the economic decline, the social issues that are rising up because of the thousands of dedicated Occupiers out there, saying NO, we're mad as hell and not going to take it any more!

WE HAVE A VOICE.

It's been silent so long no one remembers quite how to use it, but by next spring, I imagine folks across this nation will have their voices back, loud and clear.

It's been two months since from Occupy Delaware's humble beginning and one month of full-on Occupation. We're struggling, but strong. We stumble, but we rise up.

We're the 99%.

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: Occupy Delaware

Today is Thanksgiving. In spite of not having a job for nearly a year, there is much to be grateful for. I am still blessed in so many ways, by my old and new friendships and family who all support me...even if they don't understand this journey I am on.

Our beautiful welcome sign...and Bucky, my tent mate.

I have been involved with Occupy Delaware since Day One, in late September...and Occupying for nearly a month. It's been a difficult beginning, starting as we did when cold weather started to set in. We've had near freezing nights, and drenching downpours. We've lived without electricity and restroom facilities. We've had to rebuild the site when it's been flooded. This has been no holiday. Are numbers are small because of the time of year, and complacency in this corporate and banking state. But we've learned a lot. We've learned we are survivors. We've learned how to creatively solve problems. We've learned we're tenacious. I'm surrounded by passionate folks who come from all walks of life. Folks who all came for their own personal reasons. And we are coming to know each other like family. I can't imagine that when this is over, we won't remain that way.

Leading to this Thanksgiving, it's eve was a magnificent day. I'd like to share it with you...a day in the life of an Occupier. 

I spent the previous night in my own home, having had some family matters to take care of. It was still raining when I woke up and it was hard, very hard, to get the wheels in motion to go back to Spencer Plaza. Leaving my warm, dry house, after hearing from the encampment that there had been some serious flooding. But, I had security duty to fulfill and so after 3 cups of fresh, hot coffee, I set out....loaded up the car with the soaking wet blankets I had brought home to wash and dry. 

As I drove, I noticed so many houses for sale and local businesses shuttered. We move through our lives with blinders on, not seeing the truth that is sadly our new reality. Once you've occupied, you talk to so many, many people in dire straits who are quietly grateful that someone is speaking up for them it becomes impossible to ignore all the damage.

There was a message that a turkey needed to be picked up and delivered to Hanover Presbyterian Church, who had graciously offered their facilities to us to serve our "Friendsgiving Dinner" this coming Saturday. Driving north, I made contact, picked it up and delivered it to the church, where I met Pastor Andy. He had written a wonderful letter to the editor of the News Journal on our behalf. We had a nice conversation while he showed me the kitchen and dining room we'd be using. He seemed as happy to offer his church as we were to have it made available to us. Without electricity, it would have been a nightmare to try and pull off.

On the way to the church, I drove through a "sketchy" part of the city, and while sitting at a red light, I notice a woman standing outside of a liquor store. A patron walked out of the store, and she said something to him. He gave her a beer. It made me sad.

I returned to Spencer Plaza. Within 10 minutes, this same woman came into the food/meeting tent and asked if we had any food. I gave her a can of ravioli. And cookies. I was still saddened by her, but felt that I had at least provided her with some sustenance. It's the little things that make all the difference these days. 

The camp was in better shape than I expected. A crew had been working diligently to remove water and pull in pallets to get things off the ground. I checked my tent. It had weathered the rain well, nothing was wet inside. I made sure my tarp was secure in case the winds picked up and did my security shift.

A friend of Occupy dropped of a well known Delawarean treat. 10 feet of subs from Cappriotis!!! Bobby's (Thanksgiving on a roll, for those not familiar). You'd think none of us had eaten in days...we dove into them like vultures.

One of the men of the camp, homeless for 4 years, living in his car with only his beloved dog for company...lost the dog. I could feel his heart breaking. His dog is his way of connecting with something living and breathing. We all went on a search. Buddy was found, safe, and we all shared in a true moment of Thanksgiving for him and his companion in life. 

My shift now over, I left for our Green Friday action at the local mall. A group of about 10 of us wore t-shirts with slogans and event info hand painted on them. We split up and quietly roamed the mall as browsers. Many of us were stopped and asked what it was about. It was amazing to me to see the mall at the holidays in a whole new light. I don't know how to describe it. Gluttony? Who needs all this stuff? We're encouraging people not to go into debt this season, by using cash and shopping locally, buying goods made in the USA to keep jobs here, hand making gifts. Our event (this Friday at Rodney Square from 10 to 2) is a "totally free market". Yes, that is correct. Free. We have goods that we, and others, are donating. We are giving it away, so that others who can't afford the holidays, can maybe find something they can give to their loved ones.

Then we decided to do a People's Mic in the food court. I led it. It was empowering! It was fun! It was a positive message inviting people to our Green Friday. I had a blast. And the best part? One of the men, as we were leaving, heard two little kids yelling "MIC CHECK" back and forth to each other!

What a magnificent day. The power of love and compassion can seriously change the world. We are occupying. Expect us.

Please view my ongoing photo journal here:

Occupy Delaware Photo Journal