March Fo(u)rth!

In 1999 on this day, my radio alarm went off to some Boston area station. It was a Thursday, I had to be in the office later, but over the past months I had come to an important personal decision that would have a lifelong imprint and required particular action on that very morning. I listened to the radio as I dressed -- it was probably the morning show at WERS out of Emerson College, which in those days was the best place for folk, Americana, and blues -- but since I was dressing and the only other distraction from my thoughts would have been a book or a roommate, I thought about my cold feet. Life-long is a long time, no matter what your age. Between songs -- something like Kris Delmorst and Over The Rhine, or Peter Mulvey and Catie Curtis, who knows, but that's the kind of stuff they played and I loved and still do -- I considered ditching the whole idea and just go to work at the usual time. The student DJ came on to mumble something about the weather and the traffic and the upcoming shows at Passim and the Kendall Cafe (may it rest in peace), and I reached across my futon to shut the radio because my boots were on and, no matter what I decided, I still needed to catch the train. Just before I hit the button, another DJ voice came through the speaker, a confident, bolder voice. It may have even said my name.

"Good morning! March Fo(u)rth!"

And with that, my friends, I went ahead with my plans, and the Annual Day of Action was born. March Fourth.

What waffling or hesitation has fluttered in our hearts? What desires have tapped at the edges of our minds? What action has pulsed in our bloodstream? Do not delay, not today. Today is the day. MARCH FORTH!