Dreams come true: the first Age March in history

The first AGE MARCH in history was Sunday, Aug 8, 2010. It was more than I ever expected. The first AGE MARCH in history took place today in San Francisco at Chrissy Field.

All of this began with a dream. Dreams come true. It was hard getting started and getting support. But as a seventy-three year old professional single woman, I’m tired of ageism in our country. I and my committee worked endlessly. I envision a society of a work place with all ages, all levels, education at all different starts and beginnings. Everything is possible at any age.

At the MARCH on AUG 8, 2010, I saw this hunger for Age Pride and freedom from restricted ideas. Vans with people of all ages came from the East Bay Marin, Peninsula. People I had never met were there. At eight a.m. they were standing in line for their AGE MARCH T shirts. They held signs-I’m Not A Senior! I’m A Person! Celebrate Your Age! Don’t Lie About it! I’m 96 and I Have Dreams Too. It went on and on. Some wore stickers on their t-shirts with their age numbers printed on the stickers. Other carried gold pon pons and wore gold hats.

A Table of pastries were donated along with coffee. Silvia Cicardini and her saxophone and band played the blues and San Francisco Songs. It was an air of celebration. It was magic. It’s a new movement and it’s San Francisco!

How thrilled and proud I am. Christopher Springman/radio host did a superb job, introducing everyone and making it fun.

“Time to make history! Time to March,” he announced. Behind a red ten-foot banner, with the gold letters AGE MARCH/SF 2010 we marched. Next to me was Dr. Nader Shabahangi/Phd/CEO/AgeSong, sponsor of the age march next to me, my daughters and their husbands. My daughter’s dog Fred, a black lab wore a sticker on his collar that said I’m five. A low fog along the Bay was lifting and the sun burst behind the clouds. We walked along the bay, facing our gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge, orange and hovering in the mist like a glass necklace. Sailboats bobbed on the Bay like toys and birds flew low along the tide.

Those who had trouble marching, still marched slowly in the back. When I turned around and looked behind  at the hundreds of people behind me, it was thrilling. “This is the beginning of a dream,” I said to Dr. Nader. “People are hungry for this,” he said.

That night, on Channel 2 at five p.m. the age march was covered. On Channel seven, at five-and on Channel 3, NBC.

The next march will be in December in Los Angeles. The date will be announced.

THANK YOU for helping me make us make history.

To be continued.

Below are some points to look at about the meaning of this Age March.

I will keep adding to it.

March for age awareness.

March for age pride.

Don’t be ashamed of age.

Be proud of it!

March to be hired no matter what your age!

March to abolish phases like Age Appropriate!

March to end social and media pressure to look a certain way. To act a certain way!

March to abolish requirements to give age. It’s no different than having to give race.

March to merge and unify a society where all ages can work at the same levels, can educate themselves to begin new ideas and projects.

March for women over fifty who are treated as if they’re commodities and throw-aways.

Abolish terms like cougars and sugar daddys.

Treat people of all ages the same.

It’s not justice for some. It’s justice for all~

To be continued.