Last night, my former spouse called me.  This doesn't happen very often any more and I knew when I heard his voice it wasn't going to be good.  And it wasn't really, though I suppose you could argue otherwise:  my oldest was arrested yesterday in San Francisco during the protest.

The lawyer who called Jesse referred to herself as "their" lawyer, meaning, I suppose those who had been arrested.  But all 143?  I would assume that's case overload.  She said that my son had been arrested on a few charges, and even just after the call, I could only remember two:  weapons charge and traffic violations.  I scanned the internet this morning, and through all my reading, the only weapons that I heard of were Christmas ornaments filled with paint and drumsticks.

Protesters were arrested from impeding traffic due to "die ins" on Market street and for congregating around the Chevron office buildings.

So I feel a lot of things right now.  One is--no bail was mentioned--what does one do when one's son is in jail?  The lawyer said the hearing was either Friday or Monday.  So my son could be in jail for a few days.

Another thought is pure irritation.  He knew how to stay out of the arresting officers' way--and he likely wanted to make a statement about the war by getting arrested.  So, then, should he stay there to really seal the deal?  He wants this badge of honor, well, then, he should wear it.

And then, my god, he's in jail!  I should race down there and try to figure this all out, pay the price, and get him out, take him home, make him soup. 

I should thank him--knowing that in each generation, there needs to be the people who cause a stir, make waves, create change.

I should have a real talking to him, try to get him back into graduate school.

I asked Jesse what we should do, and he said it best, I think.  "I don't know," he said.  "I'm going back to bed."

So I don't know.  I can't go to bed since  it's morning and I have to take my car to the mechanic.  I'm all tied in, you see, into oil, into my car, into my life as I have it now.  Thank goodness there are people to do all my protesting work for me.

Jessica

You might not find him (sort of a Where's Waldo of protest photos) but my son is the pensive looking young man dead center in this photo just above and to the left of US Out of Iraq sign.

Update:  One thing I learned from watching The Shawshank Redemption is that everyone is innocent.   And yet, as we also learned in that film, sometimes, people actually are.

So my son has been charged with three felony counts, actions that apparently occured while standing on the sidewalk.  They are a weapons charge, conspiracy, and resisting arrest.  The bail has been set at 40,000 dollars, and the arraignment is Monday.  He has refused bail, so there he will be until Monday.

I will be heading out to SF for the hearing, and I'm really amazed, confused, upset, and interested in this entire process. More when it comes in.