Yuki Uehara A Hope Good Morning, there This morning, (Sunday morning) I woke up and went for a walk at 7 I don't usually wake up that early but I made a commitment to myself to participate in a "SILENT WALK", so I went Roads were wet and slippery. Driving east on Pomona Freeway I was wondering if anyone else would show up at all? So early on Sunday morning Raining morning Turning a corner on Mednik and 3rd street I saw a group of people standing in a circle on the grass, dressed in white Wow, that's more than 4-5 people! (as I thought, while driving) In the center of the circle Five Shamanistic ladies were burning Sage They thanked everyone of us for coming Among us were mothers, fathers, teens, little kids Latinos, whites, Asians, blacks and Indians Hippie types, monks, senior citizens.. And many more that I don't recognize their "types" but you get a picture It's about seventy of us here all wearing the best (and warm) whites from our closet with a little bit of colors here or so Then, the Shamans turned to the East sky and blew into a Conch shell as we all turned to the East and prayed Sun was not yet up in the sky as I asked to give us a support for our walk. We turned ourselves to the four directions and blew the horn to each sky Then we kneeled down to the ground I thanked earth as I touched the grass We started walking in a half hour Raining had become light sprinkling Scent of burning Sage was making a trail as we followed the Shamans in a couple of line We walked by houses, puppies (some stinky), liquor store and such. "Most people are asleep right now...", I was thinking "May peaceful prayers descend on people's dream..." A Hope Nothing was open, except a liquor store Several cars honked loud in an empty street As we walked the main strip of Whittier Blvd When about one hour has passed we looped 2.5 miles and came back to the East LA Civic Center We came in a circle again with smiles on our faces I looked at a lady who had been walking next to me The two smiled and hugged in silence A Hope I want to share my wonderful experience of "SILENT SACRED WALKS for PEACE and UNITY" with you. Next walk is December 9th in Downtown LA at 7am The Route: Cathedral, down Grand to 6th and loop up Main, back to Cathedral (2.5 miles) Meet: Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral (under construction), corner of Temple and Grand