The right to decide...

I’ve  made it to Madison just a little later than I agreed. As I approach the house I’m delivering a load to, I see their huge american flag waving proudly out front. Then I notice the anti-abortion, anti-choice bumper sticker on one of the brothers’ cars. I was pre-warned by my customer that her family is not too liberal. Of course, my signs are much bigger than theirs. We unload Maggie’s things without any trouble. One of the brothers, the one who lived in California, asks me about my trip. I talk about the march for womxxn’s lives in D.C. that I’m heading to. I express my deep concerns over the attack on womxxn and our lives in this country.

The anti-abortion brother is silent but this brother nods and agrees with me when I say “Do you believe there are people in this country who want to tell ME whether I should have a child or not?” I look at the anti-abortion brother and ask him, “Do you think you have the right to decide for me whether I should have this baby inside of me, in my body, for me to take care of – you want the right to make that decision for me?”

“Well,” he looks down at his feet, “When you put it that way, no, of course not but…”

And I interrupt and say, “That is the only way to put it – it is my decision, no one else’s. In fact, I think if you did demand I give birth to the fetus inside me you are punished me for having sex with a man.”

The other brothers are silent and look a extremely uncomfortable. I’ve already collected my money so I have no worries. I stare brightly at them, wave cheerfully, and pull off.

Driving thru the rest of little bit of Wisconsin that’s left though, I’m surprised and pleased to count 11 to one, the yeahs vs. the fuck you’s!!!

Chicago is my last stop for tonite – a friend of mine has invited me to visit and stay, plus I have another delivery to make as well. As I park my truck out front of her apartment building, an inter-racial straight couple run excitedly to tell me “We are soooooo proud you are parked in our neighborhood!” Smiles! Hugs! And flyers distributed all around!