To the editor:

As I read the above letter I recognized myself. I am the culprit who “grabbed the man’s arm” as it was reported in last Saturday’s Record.

Yes, I confess it was me.

The man was marching up the sidewalk from the ferry calling out in a very unfriendly voice, “Move! You’re blocking the sidewalk, step aside, you’re blocking the sidewalk,” and forcing the protesters to move back, which they all did graciously.

However they didn’t deserve the disrespect of someone half their age. So, as he was passing me, I grasped, made eye contact and with love in my heart, smiled and said, “I hope you have a really good day.”

He half smiled, and muttered, “I am” and went on.

That’s the last I saw of him.

I’m 69 and the leg I broke this past winter was bothered by the cold and standing so long, so when my friend, Pete said his hip hurt and he wanted to go, I didn’t object.

I’m not sure why the man I stopped called 911. I guess he didn’t believe that I wanted him to have a nice day, but I did. It doesn’t do any good to be angry and hostile. I firmly believe that we have to find ways to become real to each other, that’s what I was doing.

I just wanted him to see me, and that even if we disagreed we could still be kind.

I’m always happy to have a civil conversation without disrespecting others. This is a small island and we need to be there for one another when things fall apart.

Eileen M. Jackson

Langley