I did make it through traffic. Yes, I finally made it to Victoria Square. The people in the street have lovingly renamed it “The People’s
Square”, for this very unique and special occasion.
But...what people? I left work, ran home, marathon showered, rushed out, drove fifteen miles and this is it? A few hundred people? One thousand
perhaps? What the heck happened to the 99% ???
Because this is the reason I came here. I want to be part of that !!! The 99% !!!
I want to climb at the first streetlight a la Crocodile Dundee and yell at the top of my lungs...”Enough of the Greed !!!”...”Enough of the
Slavery !!!”...”We want our Freedom back !!!”...”We want our Government back – A Government of the People, by the People, for the
People!!!”...”WE WANT OUR LIVES BACK !!!”...
But something just doesn’t sit right ! There are more policemen than protesters here...It takes me a while to realize that the 99% has turned out to
be a small percentage of a percent...I swallow my pride as best as I can. There is just no way I’m going to start yelling. This is way too peaceful
and quiet ! I might as well paint a red and white bull’s eye target on my torso !!!
And who are these people protesting anyway ?? A few elderly people, probably bored sick of staying home...a few college kids with signs that say
nothing new...a lot of bystanders that, like me, seem to wonder what they’re doing here...A few guys and gals with Guy Falkes masks...oh, the Irony
!!!!
Strange that Ste-Catherine Street has more life any other working day ! It must be because it’s a Saturday...and it’s cloudy...and it’s
rainy...I mean...99%...who called this shot?? The TV Weather guy that predicts probabilities of sunshine and is always wrong ?? This is just so, so
depressing !!!!
So, I walk around a bit...throwing smiles at others...one way smiles by the way...feeling like I’m out of place...and soon to be out of
patience...The bar terrasses on the street are covered for the rain. People have gathered in them, drinking a few beers, eating chicken wings and
nachos, watching the nice LCD TVs that are put in evidence for customers to see, having fun. There are more people watching those – whatever
they’re watching – than walking with us...My patience has limits !
I need a beer !!!! Badly !!!
I leave the crowd less crowd and make it to the first bistro...I sit down near the street...order beer and wings...listen to people sitting around me
as they wonder what the people walking on the street are doing ! – sigh - It makes me wonder if they have “running tabs” in this place ! One
beer isn’t gonna cut it !
And as I start relaxing...as I start to get my good humor back...it dawns on me ! I have been a very infinitesimal part of a Glorious Event...a
Worldwide Event...an Historical Event !!! Occupy the World !!!
And I smile to myself...I somehow feel that there is Hope.
Yes, oh yes, I do hope that I have some Tylenols left at home when I get up tomorrow !
Occupy Montreal they said ! Be part of the 99% they said ! Make a difference they said !!!
Waiter ??