STARK DIFFERENCE
     I walk back and forth, watch for cars that may be turning into the drive.  The loud hawking of geese or sand hill cranes draw my attention as they fly overhead.  The hum of traffic on both streets provides a backdrop.  This could be any health center except, at this one, a few cars with bloody pictures attached to front and back are parked along the street, some people wear cloth sandwich-boards, with "pro-life" stamped on them and carry white signs with the same message.  When a car pulls into the parking lot, several of the women from above (sidewalk and street are elevated since the property is located on the side of a hill) turn from the street traffic, face the parking lot, and hold out their signs.  They do not say a word.  They continue in their "godly"/judgmental stance until I escort passengers into the building, then resume their vigil.
     This day, I click on my left signal to turn into the drive.  Same address, same place but something is happening.  There are lots of cars parked along the street -- no bloody pictures that I can see.  People, mainly women, are gathered along stretches of the sidewalk and even determinedly walking along the street's edge.  They are holding up and waving pink signs, green signs that say "My Choice", "Pro-Choice".  They are hoo-hawing, woo-hooing, and waving at cars that drive by.  The air is filled with intermittent low honking, high honking, strung-out honking, and everything in-between.
     I take my place walking back-and-forth and try to read some of the signs displayed on the cars.  One begins with "100%..." and another ends with, "...Support Planned Parenthood".  When a car pulls into the drive and the occupants step out from their parking space, one of the walkers turns, faces the parking lot and, from above, very clearly yells, "We support you !"
     In stark contrast, a few stragglers wearing untied, cloth sandwich-boards stand off to the side at both ends of the sidewalks.  They talk among themselves and, periodically, one separates out and trundles along the walk to the other end.  A rotund, older male stealthily steps between two parked cars with signs, and, with what looks like a smartphone camera, takes photos of front and back license plates.  (Later, I'm told by the uppity women that this is done for effect, for intimidation purposes, but, in the end, intimidates no one.)
      With the noisy, colorful enthusiastic display on this day, words like celebrating life, encouraging, empowering, come to mind.  Planned Parenthood is all about offering medical care to women (and men), period.  It is all about meeting their medical needs.  More power today to those women who must run a gauntlet to achieve that goal!