those days were full of meetings — our affinity group had just invited in the last members of the sunset affinity group and we became twelve “peace potatoes” gathering frequently to plan actions and projects. (our joke was that we sat in front of the federal building rather than the television.) each thursday morning on the walk to work i stood with a friend or two on the corner of oak and masonic, holding the beautiful big banner which we had created, calling for bread and tools to central american rather than napalm. there were large marches and rallies in san francisco — exuberant walks down market toward castro with costumes and signs and drums — rallies at the federal building or dolores park or in front of the presidio army base. one night six of us slept at the tracks outside the concord naval weapons station, allowing the longtime vigilers to sleep indoors for one cold winter night. we watched the congress and reagan administration battle or acquiesce and we kept attention on the plight of the people whose stories we heard in person. i was twenty-seven when the “papas de paz” formed — warm friends for life.