Yesterday, my sister, my friend Michael and I went over to the new City Hall to pay our last respects to Jack Layton.
He has been in repose there since Thursday, and Saturday his remains will move to Roy Thompson Hall for a State Funeral.
The line-up to view the closed casket was over an hour, and wound all the way around the building and over to Hagerman Street.
My sister and I opted to sign the Book of Condolences, instead.
The line up there was smaller.
Outside, in Nathan Phillips Square, there were mounted police, camera operators from the various TV companies, and people writing thier thoughts on the sidewalk.
It seemed that wherever there was space enough to articulate, someone was there with chalk....even in a lowly stairwell.
There was, of course, a shrine, with flowers, flags and more messages.
This was being referred to as Jack's Wall of Chalk.
So long Mr. Layton... you will be missed by your family, your friends, the politicians, the NDP, and its members, and of course, us left leaning, bike riding "Pinkos".
