October 30

Celebrate Planned Parenthood

Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel

The Depot

Guest Speaker:  Dr. Willie Parker

[As people who prefer not to inflict night driving upon ourselves, we decided to stay the night.  Right there at The Depot.  Really nice place and our room came with a view of the Federal Office Building right across the street – the very place at which some 48 years ago I entered, with much trepidation, the United States Army (or maybe it was at the Post Office . . . who remembers such things?]

[As usual, we first check the place for bugs . . . ]

[Then check to see if the wifi works . . . ]

[Then let’s go check in . . . ]

[Maybe I should get a shine?]

[A little “Hi, how are you” briefing from Dr. Parker . . . ]

[Then on the silent auction room where I was immediately intrigued by the condom purse . . . ]

[The room ultimately filled to elbow-to-elbow density, so I looked for an escape from the now tropical room temperature . . . ]

[Lead on, McDuff!]

[I eventually made it to the hallway, which was only slightly less packed . . . ]

[Then it was on to fine dining with 1,200 of my closest friends.  I don’t recall ever dining with a larger crowd?]

[Samples of the various cocktail napkins . . . ]

[Let the festivities begin . . . ]

[Well, wait for all the tables to fill – as I recall, we were Table 38 (or 36?) . . . ]

[Sarah Stoesz, President and CEO of PPMN & Dakotas, addresses the audience . . . ]

[The Alex chapter . . . ]

[And representing Alex, our tablemates Rita Koll and Sylvia Luetmer take the stage . . . ]

[Rita gave a terrific acceptance speech, sans the aid of notes or teleprompter, thus setting the stage . . . ]

[For some sort of elective office in the future (or so we hope) . . . ]

[The Super displays the award . . . ]

[As do Rita and Jon . . . ]

[And now it’s time for Dr. Parker . . . ]

The underlying assumption of all the new laws is that women can’t be trusted to make their own health decisions; their doctors can’t be trusted to tell them the truth; and scientific knowledge must be subverted in the name of religious truth.  ~  Dr. Willie Parker

Now I see the Bible as it was written: the inspired word of God, but also a historical document preserving the ancient hegemony of men; starting with Eve, women are always thrown under the bus when it suits the men in power to do so.  ~  Dr. Willie Parker

[Submitted photos of Rita and Sylvia . . . ]

[The following morning, an “ornament” by our elevator . . . ]

[Time for another shine . . . ]

[After breakfast at the hotel, it was homeward bound.]

I stand with Planned Parenthood because every woman deserves to be the architect of her own destiny.  ~  Aisha Tyler

Up Next:  Class of ’65 mini-reunion?