One of my sheroes, still speaking her mind!

Last night I got to honor a good friend and a living legend. 87 years old, Charlotte Flynn is still a sign-carrying, slogan chanting street activist.

Here's Charlotte last spring protesting the state's amendment to ban gay marriage.

(Don't let her sign fool you. She's being ironic.)

Charlotte Flynn introduced me to the Gray Panthers. The event last night was to honor her upon her retirement from their national board after 30 something years of service to that organization.

The room was filled with local luminaries--long-time dedicated Austin activists, non-profit veterans and a handful of elected and formerly elected people. There were lovely centerpieces and a big long table of food and wine.

It set out to be a lovely event. But -- if you ask me, something wasn't quite right. The other national board members who were there (and who were in charge of the program) didn't quite get it. One of them even displayed a book profiling 50 human rights visionaries and said: "Charlotte should have been in here, but she's not, so let's all sign this book and tell her about it."

They could have produced a booklet for her. They could have made a little video tribute, or given her a plaque or a damn watch (so she could count the minutes to her obviously imminent demise).

It felt somber. It felt more like Charlotte were visiting her own memorial service attended by a mess of ungrateful children and greedy distant relatives. "Charlotte was" this (fill in your own worn compliment), "Charlotte was" that (sappy sentiment).

Damn it, I thought. Charlotte STILL IS!

Instead of celebrating the inspiration that she has been and still is, we're all sitting here enduring this gawdawful program like we're at church and can't wait to go home and watch football.

So, when the master of ceremonies offered time for friends to come up and say nice things about Charlotte, I went up last and told them a little sumpin sumpin.

I said, when I think of Charlotte, I think of fire and fight! I think we should honor her now by doing the Gray Panther growl!

And at first, everybody just looked at me... But Charlotte was totally there. Charlotte grabbed her walker and came up and made everybody stand up, and she lead them in the Gray Panther Growl... and it was awesome!

Maggie Kuhn's motto was: "Do something outragreous!" So I did.

*****


"Learning and sex until rigor mortis."
--Maggie Kuhn

Here's Maggie Kuhn doing the Gray Panther Growl.