Beginning on October 25th students from the the Leadership Campaign have been gathering on Boston Common to demand 100% Clean Electricity by 2020. I have worked with some of these students on our climate change work and know their incredible talent and capacity to get things done. We were invited to sign on. You can't say no to this commitment. UU Mass Action proudly signed.
And so on Nov 14 I brought my tent and sleeping bag to the Common to join these students. Over 150 students gathered to hear Bill McKibben, listen to the songs of Rev. Fred Small, and chant with student leader Kate MacDonald from UMass Amherst - 'No more than 350, no less than 100%'. The highlight of the night is that Bill McKibben will join the sleep-out. Clark University got the title for most students at 27, and Williams for traveling the furthest.
UU Mass Action is introduced as one of the new partners - to loud applause and cheers for UUs - WOW! Other adult types like me are there to support the students but as the evening wears on they begin to slip out - work and family commitments, the toilet is two blocks away!, it is getting really cold. But Jay has already set up my tent.
As I am thinking about sliding into my sleeping bag, a meeting is called to strategize about next steps. It is 11:00. This is bedtime. I am grouped with the 'adults.' We look the same, tired, stifling yawns in defference to our young hosts, and trying desperately to stay with the program. In spite, of the time, we pull together some ideas for how adults can compliment the work of these wonderful students. At midnight, I am finally free to slip into my sleeping and do so in spite of the fact that a few musicians have set up 5 feet from my tent.
That beautiful velvet lawn of a June day on the Common is hard, rocky and wet. It is cold, but the music wonderful. Sleep is short lived. We are awakened at 2:26 to police shouting. We expected them, but the shouts are jolting. I exit my tent. The police tell us we can leave and not get a summons, but we agreed earlier we would stay unless a scholarship etc was at risk. Many of the students have not even been to sleep. Others look like me- completely dazed. I end up at the beginning of the line we formed on the pathway. The officer looks at me. "Are you sure you want to do this?" he quizzes me. "You can leave." "No, I am staying" I replied. I left my ID in my car. The officer looks at me and decides I will be honest and the questions begin; name, address,... Over 130 people stood in line that night including Bill McKibben. It was a peaceful exchange. Five or six police officers and students compliantly giving their IDs. We stand until 3:00 and then are dismissed and return to our tents. Everyone is too tired for conversation and sleep finally descends on the students.
I am awed by their passion, firm in my commitment that this will be a one-night stand for me, and reenergized to continue the work.

Nancy - now fully recovered