Saying goodbye...a day at Arlington Cemetery, Mt. Vernon, and the road back to Ohio...

DC... Day 4...

On my last morning in DC, I began by standing at the window of my 11th floor hotel room, and thinking of the lives that were going on beneath my vantage point, the lives that have gone into making my stay enjoyable, and the lives that have been sacrificed so that our nation and our beautiful capital city exist and mean so much...

It is fitting, I think, that on our last day in DC we are visiting the final resting spot of at least some of our nation’s heroes...It is a short drive from the hotel to Arlington National Cemetery...It is a short trip, but so is life some times and today will end up being a day of remembrance for me in many ways...

I was happy to have the opportunity to see the cemetery that so many of us have no doubt seen many times on TV. I am again amazed at how little of the grandeur and splendor and enormity of a place the little -- or even giant screens -- can capture. The seemingly endless rows of simple white stones stretch on and on through rolling hills and beautiful areas shaded by tall and splendid trees.

Visiting the grave of JFK was our first stop outside the visitor center. Although his life was over before mine ever began, reading his words and seeing the eternal flame that lights his grave were both moving experiences...It is once again the words, the inscriptions in smooth granite ringing his grave that ring most true and powerful in my mind.

The next stop was the burial place of Robert Kennedy. His cross and headstone are simple and there is a simple beauty in the reflective waters that flank one side of his grave and again reflect an inscription meant to give pause to other thoughts and allow those present to think about what it means to be an American.

All of the three Kennedy men buried in Arlington are buried at the foot of the hill where atop the Arlington mansion sits. From each grave, you can stand at the foot and see either a flame or a simple cross with the hillside, the home and the American flag standing behind them. In that way they are all strikingly similar. In some ways, I was most grateful to see Senator Ted Kennedy’s gravesite. His death is the most recent, but as I witnessed history the day before watching his funeral procession, I also realize that by watching people walk past his grave the morning after his burial I am likely seeing a spot that will look different if I ever return there. I would think that a memorial of some type having an inscription of his own words will be installed to honor this last brother of a trio that served their country. Whether Democrat or Republican, Kennedy fan or foe, there is no doubt that this family and these men have had an impact on the country.

Of the quotes that I have read of Senator Ted Kennedy’s these two are probably my favorites:

“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.”

"The commitment I seek is not to outworn views but to old values that will never wear out. Programs may sometimes become obsolete, but the ideal of fairness always endures. Circumstances may change, but the work of compassion must continue."

As my life intersected with the making of history this weekend as Ted Kennedy was laid to rest, I thought of the hopes, the dreams, the values and the work that had been done by so very many people -- both those whose names we know and those who remain obscure -- to secure the freedoms that we all too often take for granted.

It was with thoughts of those whose names we do not know that I headed to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier...I must say that the price of the ticket to DC is worth it if this is all I were able to witness. The reverence, the stoicism, the precision with which these young men that march their 21 paces, pause 21 seconds and then make the most impeccably choreographed and practiced turns was an amazing sight to behold.

Had it not been incredibly hot outside (and we’d not had other attractions to see before we headed out) I do believe I could have stood and watched these young soldiers repeat the act of marching, laying wreaths, and changing guard positions the entire day through. This is truly a sight that is beyond my command of words to describe. It is an honor to view and a pleasure to know that those who gave their lives with no hope of being glorified so that I can enjoy my freedoms each and every day are being remembered in such a beautifully impressive way.

We departed Arlington Cemetery and headed to Mt. Vernon. I really knew little about this destination except that it was the estate of our first president, General George Washington.

I was excited to see this place for numerous reasons, one of which was that it had struck me throughout my time in DC how little I had learned about or seen about our very first president. Granted the tallest monument and the city itself bear his name, but there are countless books about Lincoln and many others in gift shops throughout every museum in DC...not so with Washington, but a trip to Mount Vernon definitely gave me a great view of the life of a man who was brave in a way that was significantly different than others that are honored. He was the first president. And because Mt. Vernon really gives you a look into how this man lived by showcasing an outstanding estate that is ideally situated in hills with the Potomac River at the back of the land, it is easy for me to think of how daunting it must have been for him to head up this great experimental government. There had been no one that had held this office before him. There was no one’s example to follow. There were no traditions and regulations to lead him in how it was he was supposed to go about leading a brand new nation with a brand new system of government. And while I hate to use the term maverick because Palin and McCain have given it a meaning that make most laugh. I do believe that General George Washington may very well have been a maverick. It is apparent from the estate that he was at very least wise, humble, and able.

My attempts to describe a man, who without having forced term limits, turned the new government over to the people by allowing them to choose their own president after serving just eight years in a very significant office are inadequate. The estate is well-preserved -- and preserved through absolutely no federal and state funding, but by a private organization, Mount Vernon’s Ladies’ Association -- and is a pastoral and lovely setting to learn about the wonderful and wise man who led our country through its infancy.

We stayed at the estate until almost four o’clock and had a long drive waiting ahead of us...We certainly could have stayed longer...and I’d love to visit again...(Travel Tip #6... Either at the end of your visit to DC or in the middle of your visit as a lovely break from the hustle and bustle of the city life of DC, plan an entire day to learn, relax, and enjoy the home of the father of our country...It really does feel like home...and I think will likely give you a different view of a man who like many of our fathers was courageous, self-sacrificing, and a very good leader to a not always so great group of ‘kids’....)

As we left, little Clara said several times...Bye bye DC....Bye bye DC...

And so we bid DC farewell, so very thankful for the experiences I had and have shared as I went to a place I truly believe every American should, if possible, visit at some point in their life...

It is a lovely city that has shown me in lovely ways some things I never knew about America and a lot of things about what it means to be an American...

“... anything so delightful as Washington I have never seen elsewhere. There were a mingled simplicity and grandeur, a mingled state and quiet intimacy, a brilliancy of conversation—the proud prominence of intellect over material prosperity which does not exist in any other city of the Union.” ~M.E.W. Sherman

Historical Landmarks...and Landmark History...

DC...Day 3...

This morning started out with me -- and for the first time, or at least the first time they'd admit --my travel companions feeling completely done-for, drained, debilitated, dog-tired...and, well, just plain old exhausted...

So...after a little discussion and deliberation, we decided to catch a cab to our first destination -- The Wall...The Vietnam War Memorial...which just happens to be the furthest attraction from where we are staying...(DC Travel Tip #5...If you are going to make the adventurous or possibly absurd decision to see all of DC on foot, I strongly suggest that you buy a really good map ((-- and btw, I have a GREAT one --)) and put the locations furtherest away from your hotel at the beginning of your journey...or at very least at the beginning of your day...It is hard to talk your feet out of hurting or your legs out of aching and at least somewhat easier to talk yourself out of seeing something that you can buy a postcard of seventeen steps from the hotel elevator doors...)

Our decision was that we would take a cab (or I thought maybe cabS throughout the day to see the remaining sites on our list of must-see things)...The bellman called a cab...And we headed off to the Vietnam Memorial. Because we had originally seen the Korean War Memorial at night and not gotten the best pics of it, we headed there first. This memorial is beautiful. I love the fact that the soldiers are all just a little larger than real people (isn't it true that soldiers that are willing to risk their lives for the safety and freedom of others are indeed somehow bigger people than the rest of us they so selflessly protect??) and I also love that no matter where you stand one of the soldiers is looking directly at you. It was great to see this memorial in the daylight...(in fact, ideally I think many of the memorials and monuments, including, but probably not limited to, the Lincoln, the Washington, the Korean, etc. would be worth seeing in daylight and at night if time allowed --but frankly, in DC time may never allow...)

We walked --yep, that's right WALKED -- to the Vietnam Memorial from the Korean Memorial -- OK, it's really not that far, but my feet kept telling me it was about a million miles...

I stopped at the books with worn pages curled at the corners from many hands searching for the names of the soldier they knew and loved and how to find his name on the panels and lines that line the wall. I do not personally have someone that I know that is listed on the wall. I did, however, want to look up the name HOWLE. I only found one soldier with that name listed on the Wall. We then proceeded to the Wall and spent some time there. I was amazed by the sheer size of it. In elementary or maybe junior high the "Traveling" Wall had come to TTU campus and our class had gone there on a field trip..But nothing I saw there prepared me for the size of the real memorial. I think my favorite part of this memorial was either the few little photos and pieces of paper in sheet protectors left against the bottom of the wall further explaining and adding meaning to the names listed above OR the group of WWII veterans arriving just as we left. These men were mostly sweet looking grandpa types, who were likely sweet looking cocky young 18 year old boys when they decided it was worth taking the risk of possibly sacrificing their lives to serve their country...I knew when they looked at the names on the wall that they could feel a significance of what the sacrifice meant that I would never understand...but seeing their faces as they viewed the Wall was a feeling I will never forget.

After the Wall, we headed across to see the Albert Einstein statue at the National Academy of the Sciences. I was excited about this statue for a few reasons...1) Well...it's Einstein... and he was one of the most brilliant minds of our times, and intelligence is so very, very attractive... 2)And even though he was brilliant, and I will never understand quantum physics, I do understand the sentiments expressed when he said such things as..."Before God, we are all equally wise...and equally foolish" and "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." as well as..."Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater," which was on an Einstein poster that my big brother gave me for Christmas when I was in college and had dropped College Algebra for probably the 3rd time...I just really appreciate Einstein's wit even though I doubt I could ever grasp his wisdom...AND 3) the Einstein statue is one statue that you are actually encouraged to climb on...and that sounded like fun to me...

The plan was to climb up and give him a kiss, but I never quite made it to his face... But I did have numerous pics made reclining near his shoulder and in his lap and I -- as well as Cody, yep, the 4 year old on our trip -- both seemed rejuvenated by the joy of playfully climbing on a big statue.

After we left Einstein, I'd have been happy to take a cab to our next destination...BUT, for 5 people cabs aren't cheap...AND...not many cabs are readily available on the far, far end of Constitution Avenue. So, we slowly made our way to the National Archives.

No flash photography is allowed inside the Archives...I do have pics, but they are on my iPhone and I still haven't had time to go through the process of actually getting them collected on my MacBook with the rest of my travel pics...I mostly mention the pics because the sights in the Archives are impressive...It was amazing to see the signatures on the documents that form the foundations of our government. The Magna Carta, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights...Our country was built by the actions of great, valiant, revolutionary men (and women) but these actions were inspired by words...Words of greatness, of power, of the true meaning of our rights and responsibilities as human beings.

I have for as many years as I can remember been a lover of words... But seeing these words, these words that truly inspired the actions that formed a nation and created the freedoms I live with and love every day was such a wonderfully meaningful experience.

As we left the Archives, we noticed a CNN crew lingering on a corner across the street. I knew that Senator Ted Kennedy's funeral was going to take place, but since I had not even turned on the TV in my hotel room since arriving, I had no idea that the procession would come right by the place where we were standing. I was pretty excited to see the CNN crew setting up cameras, adjusting angles, taking phone calls, and even getting food service from a young girl carrying around a tray of bagels, crackers and other fixings for lunch on the go.

Since I tend to be an over-listener (-- or what some people like to refer to as an eavesdropper -- and btw, totally not my fault that I over-listen, it's a family trait apparently AND I can't help it that I have freakishly good hearing, which any student I've ever taught can attest to) I was intently tuned in to what it was they were saying on the phone calls and to crew members. As we eventually found out, CNN would indeed be shooting the funeral procession from across the street from the Archives...but not until about 4:30 that afternoon (which actually turned in to almost 7:30 that evening) so we decided we had time to see the Air & Space Museum and return to that spot to see history in the making.

I was impressed and interested by the CNN crew. I suppose somewhere deep deep down inside of me there still beats the heart of a would-have-been journalist that finds capturing the news for the world exciting. Oddly enough, the thing that will probably stick in my mind most about the crew wasn't them perfecting the shot angles or talking about Carville's take on Kennedy's impact, but the fact that as the entire crew got set to load up and head to another location to do pre-production that the guy turned to them and told them..."Ok, there's a bathroom at the Sculpture Garden for any of you that need to use it before we get in the van to go to the next location...there won't be a convenient bathroom there..." Just like our mom's getting us ready for a long (or even a short car trip) anywhere...CNN'ers need to be reminded to take care of their business before they get in the car...There are some things we all have in common...

After leaving the Archives...and realizing that the need to evacuate waste from the body is indeed the great equalizer, we headed to the National Air & Space Museum...And yes, I know this is supposed to be one of the best museums ever...BUT...my interest in air & space is limited to my own airplane not falling out of the AIR and nothing from SPACE ever invading this planet...and it goes no further than that...SO, we headed to the monster of a McDonald's that is located in the museum first...This McDonalds is crazy and crazy busy...It's huge...It's full of tons of people talking -- talking loudly -- talking in lots of languages -- lots and lots of talking...Too much noise, too many people, too much greasy food, and just too too much made me again decide to head out on my own... I took a few pics of the obvious attractions at the museum, ie the huge metal machines hanging from the ceiling and took a quick turn through the gift shop and was done with the what I know is supposed to be the best museum ever.

While the Grimmetts enjoyed the Air & Space Museum I walked across the way to the American Art Museum. The museum was quiet and beautiful and full of works that I was thrilled to see. I saw some of the beautiful works that I had studied in college in my art history class...Monet, Cassat, Rembrandt and many, many others. I also had the opportunity to see some works, such as Thomas Cole, that I wasn't familiar with before, but whose series of works entitled "The Voyage of Life," was incredibly beautiful and moving.

After enjoying some time at the art museum AND sitting by a beautiful fountain outside of the museum, I met back up with my tired travel mates. We headed toward the corner of Constitution as it was almost time for Senator Kennedy's motorcade to pass by. However, when we got back to Constitution Avenue we had a bit of extra time and walked into the Sculpture Garden...There was, like an oasis in a parched and stifling desert, a huge fountain, which you could not only sit near, but also dip your feet in. AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! We -- Jessie and I -- enjoyed this while the kiddos napped. We reluctantly headed out to the corner of Constitution across from the Archives when it appeared a few people had started to congregate on the street. It was approximately 4:30 and Kennedy was to arrive at the Capitol about that time.

BUT...from over-listening to the CNN crew AND texting at mom at home watching CNN (from a much different vantage point than I was watching them) We gathered that Senator Kennedy's motorcade wasn't even a motorcade yet and that he was still in fact on a plane en route to DC...We decided to sit around and wait...and since the kiddos were sleeping it was no big deal...BUT soon the little ones started to stir...and Jessie and Jason decided to head back to the hotel...

Normally staying in DC surrounded by a small crowd of strangers that was slowly getting bigger and bigger would likely have been out of the question for me...but...I am traveling and I just couldn't see missing an opportunity to sit in the very seat of the history of our nation and witness an event that will no doubt be added to history books...

I went across to the Archive steps and sat and text and watched the crowd and the clouds gather and gather. I talked to a family and a couple, from Wisconsin and Connecticut respectively, as we waited for a motorcade that was now more than an hour and a half behind schedule.

I was there to see the funeral procession of Senator Ted Kennedy, but I saw more than that. People of all ages, all races, all nationalities, all political beliefs, religions and lifestyles (yep, there was a lovely red-headed cross dresser just feet from me -- he wore a black dress and make up and a long red wig, but with hands and a voice like his, he wasn't fooling anybody)...People who were not alive when any of the Kennedy's were elected and people who vividly remembered the death of two Kennedy men before this one were gathered together. People who believed this Kennedy, and all Kennedys were heroes, and those who were simply there because they were already in DC on vacation and thought witnessing history was worth scrapping a trip or two to a historical monument that particular evening.

Seeing the hearse, the limos, the Kennedy family members waving at the crowds as they passed, and even seeing John Kerry and literally busloads of other family members and staffers pass by in a slow processional was impressive, but...

It was the diversity, the differences, and the difficulties being endured by those waiting that most stirred feelings of patriotism in me. These people who were tired, hungry, sweating, who were white, brown, black, and who were from as many different groups, beliefs, and value systems as can be imagined all coming together very peacefully to share a special moment that belongs to us collectively showed me in so many ways the meaning of the American spirit...

The spirit is willing, but the flesh (ie, feet, knees, legs) are weak...

****Before I get on to the events of Day 2 of the DC tour, I am going to give you a peak behind the proverbial curtain and explain a bit about the 'wizardry' of writing this blog...The way the blog writing has been working thus far is that I have experienced things during the day...come back to my room --often late in the evening and made notes --often into the early hours of the morning and then uploaded a small sampling of my pics from my digital camera to my computer and oftentimes to facebook...and then waited til the next night to actually write the entries...

I explain this for a few reasons ...1) so that those of you following on facebook will understand why my status never matches up with my blogs...2) so that you will know why at times it seems like I'm writing in the present tense and then in the past and then back and forth again and forgive that as well as all other punctuation errors and typos - i do not punctuate or capitalize or spell check when reflecting and making notes... and 3) so that you will understand why the Day 2 entry -- being posted tonight at the end of Day 3 -- is so fragmented...Day 2 entry is almost entirely just my notes from last night copied and pasted into a blog... I am doing that so that I can spend more time on the notes from Day 3, which include the witnessing of the history in the making by attending Senator Ted Kennedy's funeral...I have lots of reflection about Day 3 to log AND it's late AND I'm tired AND I have to pack up tonight because we head out in the morning...and I'm done making excuses...but I just wanted to you to know...***

So, now that the disclaimer is written and you are likely more thoroughly confused than you normally are when you wade into the words of my blog...here's the Day 2 data...

Day two....the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak...

We got a late start... first stop -- Holocaust Museum...amazing...so much info...loved the ID card received upon entering...i can’t exactly say why, but of all the tragic pictures and artifacts collected and displayed throughout the museum it was shoes that made me cry. That display of piles of shoes taken from the feet of people of all ages before they were led to their extermination was heart-wrenching ... I walked through the entire museum with a ache in my heart, but seeing those shoes somehow broke that pain loose and started the flow of tears.

...sorry for not having pics, but none are allowed to be taken in this museum...i suppose it might diminish the spirit of reverence that exists inside that place...and reverence is the best word i have to describe what i saw there...i was amazed at how long we were in the museum before anyone ever spoke to anyone else...and there were lots of teens present whom i really thought wouldn’t stay quiet that long...

the whole exhibit is phenomenal...so informative, so unbelievable, so sad...there is a breathtakingly beautiful circular room at the end with a beautiful central flame at one side of a circle and a hallway of sorts that has candles all the way around the circle...it’s simple and simply awe-inspiring...i lit a candle and cried a tear...this museum is awesome and inspiring...

there’s an area that details the current struggle in darfur and it stirred in me a huge desire to learn more about that situation and possibly make a difference in some small way there...so many people turned their backs on what was going on in Nazi Germany and to the great extermination of a race of people...i hope i am never in any way guilty of turning a blind eye to such horrific injustice...

i began day 2 fairly tired... after this museum i was simply exhauated...so, exhausted that I am prompted to include travel tip #4-- the Holocaust Museum should be the last thing in a day because the physical exhaustion really hits after the emotional exhaustion of spending more than a couple of hours walking through a very harsh, and real, and gut-wrenching environment...

I was truly exhausted and oddly somewhat disgusted at myself... I was feeling stupid for being so tired and wanting to just sit down and do nothing because what I had gone through walking all over DC for days was less than nothing compared with what all the Jewish people had to endure...and the fact that there were and are survivors both amazes and inspires me...

I spent a long long time in the museum so my traveling companions had gone and grabbed a meal...

We met back up and headed to the Smithsonian castle...incredibly pretty from outside with a very beautiful garden...I have no real comment about the inside because other than the pile of treasures that was actually a prop from the Night at the Museum: The Battle of the Smithsonian, I looked at little there -- btw, I really really want to see the second Night at the Museum movie now that I've actually been to the Smithsonian...I could watch it as a movie on demand in my room, but think I'll just rent it when I get home and marvel at the fact that I've seen the stuff shown in the film...

Upon leaving the castle the Grimmetts spotted a carousel...Having not eaten and being a little big to ride the carousel myself -- although I'm still a kid at heart and would have enjoyed the ride I'm sure...I headed to the Natural History Museum to grab some lunch while they stayed to ride.

That's when I found a spot that allowed a beautiful view of 4 points of interest in the city...to my right - The Capitol...to my left - The Washington Monument... directly behind me - The Smithsonian Castle...directly in front of me -- the Museum of Natural History...a great 360 degree photo op...there's actually several places in DC where one revolution yields 4 incredibly views, this was one of my fave of those places...

The Natural History Museum has a pretty good - and pretty pricey - cafe in the basement... The museum itself is pretty cool and super for kids...I was so exhausted at this point that I had trouble distinguishing the paleolithic period from the jurassic period (not that I've ever been a big fan of such stuff or really had a clue which came first the homo erectus or the neandrathal -- ((homo erectus ...there's about a million jokes just waiting there, none of which i'll go in to...)) My fave thing was the Hope Diamond...and not just because Diamonds are a girl's best friend...The exhibit is lovely and the area actually contains numerous beautiful jewels including other rare diamonds as well as rubies (the personal fave of this July baby), emeralds, sapphires, etc.

The diamonds weren't nearly as interesting to my travel companions as they were to me AND we also had an assigned time to go to the Printing & Engraving Museum (we picked up tickets earlier in the day, but as I mentioned before ticketed free venues can end up dictating your schedule based on times available to see the museums) -- which by the way was clear across DC - back over by the Holocaust Museum - and which while somewhat interesting I'm sure, simply didn't hold enough allure to convince my aching, bleeding feet that a trek there was worth the trip...

I parted company with my companions...I was for the first time alone in DC...Scary at first...sorta...but a couple of deep breaths later I was back in the gemstone exhibit area and happy to have further explored my ability to tour alone and the beautiful jewels. After I finished that exhibit I checked out the museum gift shops and sat down for a Diet Coke and some gummy bears -- I needed fuel for the long trek back to the hotel...

As it turned out, I didn't need the fuel at all...What I needed was a cab...It had started to rain. The idea of a walk many many blocks to the hotel on less than sound legs was not appealing taking that walk in the rain -- in a white t-shirt no less -- seemed downright indecent...

A few moments in the back of a smelly cab and a few near tip revoking comments by a cabby who didn't realize that YES indeed I might melt if I walked in the rain led to my home away from home -- the Grand Hyatt -- and the sweet relief when shoes came off...

After a little rest, I changed for dinner and enjoyed a lovely dinner at Capital City Brewing Company...The food was good, the waitstaff/host was super nice -- in fact, it has been my experience in DC that most everyone from the concierge to the park police to the waitstaff at CCBC who gave free ice cream to the little ones (ah, to be a kid again) are all quite nice -- the drinks and dinner were yummy and the company of friends was even better than all of the other good stuff...

The exhaustion was still present...My less than perfectly composed legs were less than strong and the hip, neck and back were tight and tired...BUT...the day had gone well and exposed me to another 12 hours or so of being inspired, entertained, informed and well, just plain old happy...

I settled in to bed shortly after midnight thinking of my plans for the next day... I was tired from the journey and knew sleep and sweet dreams would come easily...Another wonderful day in DC had ended with bleeding heals but also - and more importantly -- a happy heart...

Physically exhausting, but fabulously rewarding...

DC - Day One...

After a 7:15 wake up call that roused Ms. How-lee (and I do appreciate the effort to address guests by name, but just wish my name weren’t so often mispronounced) from fewer than 5 hours of sleep and a lovely yogurt, fresh berry and granola parfait from room service (and btw...God bless the person who invented room service...yes, it’s overpriced, yes, it’s probably frivolous, but YES, I sure do enjoy having my breakfast --or any other meal for that matter -- delivered to me in my room on a lovely teak wood tray that has a few sprigs of alstromeria in a small vase next to my chef-prepared meal)...we headed out to Ford’s Theater.

Ford’s Theater like several other free attractions throughout DC does require tickets. So, upon arrival at the theater we got our tickets and had some time to kill before our tour of the theater. (DC travel tip #1 -- if you are coming to DC, and you look online and it says tickets required, search diligently to see if that page also has an option for obtaining said tickets ahead of time. This option may seem unnecessary, but trust me when I say it will help you stay -- or at least attempt to stay -- on schedule for the day. And I say attempt to stay because travel tip #2 is... Be prepared to NOT stay on schedule unless you are of course only scheduling one or two sites a day and have unlimited time in the capital city OR you have trained for a marathon and are in such phenomenal physical condition that you often run home three or four miles after a 45 minute spin class and an hour and a half session of weight training because you are simply never tired enough after your work outs...) As with any time before tour that I’ve encountered, the time you have before your assigned tour time will likely NOT be enough time to go and see anything else. It will be enough time to wander around the gift shop that is no doubt convenient to the area where you will wait and will allow time for you to spend money, which is exactly what I did while we waited. The Ford’s Theater has a really good gift shop. I bought a couple of family members gifts -- I won’t mention which family members or what gifts here just in case someone in the fam is reading this...I don’t want to ruin the surprise --

In the waiting area there is the coat that Lincoln was wearing the night he got shot -- It’s in this great protective case so it’s very difficult to get a good picture of it. I tried, but really just no luck...I will include the pic of the back of the case that shows Lincoln and tells about the garment he was wearing as well as a good deal of info about how the jacket is protected from the environs.

The museum at Ford’s Theater is very nice...It has lots of great things to read...I will admit that I did not read them all by any stretch of the imagination...I was particularly fond of some of Lincoln’s great quotes (ie, I have found that people who have no vices generally have few virtues.... AND...I have never studied the art of paying compliments to women; but I must say that if all that has been said by orators and poets since the creation of the world were applied to the women of America, it would not do them justice for their conduct during this war. I will close by saying, God bless the women of America.) Clearly Lincoln had a good command of the use of the English language and was eloquent and articulate -- qualities that I certainly am ardently appreciative of. His words and incredible contributions to our country were beautifully displayed and explained in the museum. I was also fond of the way the Gettysburg Address was displayed. There was an entire wall were the title was printed a printed copy was displayed and where a video screen was present that showed on a continual loop the currently living ex-presidents each reading a portion of the address. It was a lovely display.

There is a room that details the conspirators in his murder, their initial plan of kidnap and the information about the night of the murder and subsequent arrests and revelation of information surrounding the plot.

I was impressed to see the gun that was actually used to shoot him on display in the museum. After we toured the museum portion we went into the actual theater where his murder took place. We did not stay for the park ranger’s presentation of the information surrounding his death. We instead went at that point across the street to the Peterson House where Lincoln actually was when he died. The room where he died is available for viewing and is interesting to see.

I learned a great deal about Lincoln’s family life that I was not aware of as well as many things about all that he accomplished and how truly interesting he was.

After we left Ford’s Theater we went right back down the street to our hotel. We passed St. Patrick’s Cathedral which is truly beautiful. We went back had a in-room picnic lunch and headed to the Metro to travel to Union Station.

Once we arrived there, we got our tickets to the DC Duck Tour...Jessie and I have both been excited about this tour since I first came across it on the Internet...She also felt that it was something Cody would really like. The DC Duck tour is also something that you must have tickets for although they aren’t free and we actually did have some time before this tour to do some walking.

We walked down to the Capitol Building. I took lots and lots of pictures. We walked back by a fountain and returned to Union Station to jump on the back of our duck -- Lame Duck was the name of the particular duck we were on. Our captain, Captain Briton was a nice guy, who I thought was actually pretty witty... He made some jokes...and although I can’t remember what exactly it was he had been explaining, he made a comment about it being Al-a-Gore-ical...I found it humorous, but I know my sense of humor isn’t the same as most folks...

The duck tour goes by practically ever major attraction in DC. It’s a pretty relaxing ride and while you can’t actually get a great look at most things from the back of the duck if you only had one day in DC, I’d suggest doing the duck tour to at least catch a glimpse of things. You also get these wonderful quackers...Plastic yellow duck bill-like noise makers...at first they seem fabulous, eventually they are just obnoxious...BUT I am bringing mine home with me because I am convinced it will make a good football game noisemaker or possibly in a pinch scare off would be muggers/rapist/and other generally bad people...

All in all the DC duck tour is enjoyable and does give a nice overview of the city ...Travel Tip #3...If you take a duck tour, sit on the left side. Although the captain does point out things on the right, it seems that every single thing I wanted a photo of was on the left...except the Pentagon... and really you can’t get a good photo of it anyway.

After the duck tour, which last about 90 minutes, we took the Metro back across town and made the miles long trek to the White House, the Washington Monument, the WW II Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial.

Several things that struck me in this portion....1) I think I would have been much more excited to see the White House if Dubya and Laura still lived there (no disrespect meant to the current President or to my Democrat friends...wait...Do I have any Democrat friends ?? ;) 2) I never realized that there were so many grassy fields around the White House OR that these grassy fields were the perfect place for intramural Kickball leagues...that’s right Kickball...We did see a few soccer games and a handful of baseball teams playing, but by in large the fields were covered with Kickball teams. (and for those of you who relate to DC in Hollywood terms I do believe that these are probably the fields where Tom Cruise, Kevin Bacon and other from A Few Good Men were probably supposed to be playing on their baseball team early in the movie) ... 3) I think that I find things interesting at sites that other people do not. I LOVE the inscriptions...which are usually powerful and beautiful quotes. I LOVE the details -- the fact that the grates in the sidewalks are imprinted with stars or that the hinges on the bathroom stalls at the Washington Monument have a little Capitol building printed on them...or really lots of other small, abstract and random details -- and that my photos of DC probably represent this fact because I find myself taking pics of things no one else seems to be photographing...including the dozen or more US flags I’ve taken photos of or things I’ve seen engraved here and there that remind me of people in my past or in my life now...IF you ever see all my pics you will see what I mean.

Anyway, as sunset approached we headed toward the Lincoln Memorial...We passed the reflecting pool and honestly I kept thinking of the scene in Forrest Gump where Jenny and Forrest run and embrace in the pool (I told you before I had a Hollywood version and point of reference for most things DC...as do many of you probably, unless of course, you've actually been here...)

Once we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial I was truly overwhelmed by its beauty at dusk. It is indeed the perfect place to sit and reflect on the beauty of the capital city, to look down the Mall toward the Washington Monument and the Capitol Building and to just feel really proud and privileged to be an American.

We left the memorial after dark and briefly stopped by the Korean War Memorial. This is a beautiful memorial as well, but my pictures are terrible because it was so dark. I was most struck by a wreath of fresh flowers that had obviously been placed very recently at the site and which had a ribbon attached that simply stated, “We Remember You.”

We walked what seemed like endless miles back toward our hotel. We did stop for just a few minutes and listen to the Marine Corps Band play a free outdoor concert at a stage just a hundred yards or less from the base of the Washington Monument. It was another amazing DC moment.

When we arrived at the hotel, my body felt as if I had been through some sort of battle myself. My feet ached, my right knee was swollen and tight and even my back, hands and neck were not feeling just right.

And once again, thank God for room service. I received a lovely meal complete with another small vase of alstromeria ((-- this time pink and by the way I did keep both little vases of flowers in my room -- fresh flowers are a lovely touch to any decor)) which I ate in my pjs, sitting right up in the middle of my bed, (and for some reason that’s also especially pleasurable, probably because my mom would never ever let us eat in our rooms and certainly not on our beds) and staring out over the magnificent Washington DC.

I turned in early -- before midnight -- and as I drifted off to sleep I thought at first about how tired my feet were, and how sore my shins and knees were...BUT then I thought of how lucky I am...Fortunate to be able to walk the streets of DC, fortunate to live in a country so richly blessed, fortunate to be free, fortunate to be an American drifting off with so many new inspiring and interesting things I’d seen to fill my dreams...

WOW...

I suppose as an English teacher/journalist, I should be much more articulate...BUT...As I sit here on the bed in my 11th floor room looking out through the huge windows that form 0ne entire wall of my room and glimpse a bit of our nation's capital, the first word that comes to mind is... WOW!!!

The city is beautiful. The room is beautiful. Life is beautiful.

Although it was difficult for me to ride in a car after dark (As some of you may know it's a remote possibility that I might have some control issues and I also can't help but get a bit anxious about being a passenger in a vehicle at night on unfamiliar roads)...I am, however, happy that we arrived at night. It was odd coming in to DC because somehow I expected to see all the things we see so often of our capital on television. I think we all think we know what DC looks like...I mean we've all watched inaugurations or press conferences in the Rose Garden...Or at very least seen West Wing or watched The American President 387 times (ok, well maybe that's just me, but I really do love that movie)...But it wasn't what I expected or what I believed I KNEW it to be... I mean, I realized that the buildings in DC weren't tall...I did my homework I knew that the Washington Monument was the tallest DC landmark...and I knew I wouldn't see a famous skyline, but somehow I expected to recognize the city...and although I didn't... I did glimpse and recognize the top of the Washington Monument as soon as it came into view and I felt a sense of awe and a stirring of patriotism that I find hard to explain at the moment.

When we turned on Pennsylvania Avenue, aka America's Main Street, to proceed to our hotel, I'd gotten over the feeling of being confused that this didn't look like the Hollywood version of DC and as I looked at the simple green and white sign with the famous name -- Pennsylvania Avenue --- and viewed more than the tip top of the Washington Monument, I was practically giddy...Corny, maybe??? But true...absolutely. I really feel like I'm somewhere special -- Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Grand Hyatt is a beautiful hotel with a gorgeous lobby and atrium that is a truly magnificent sight to behold at 11:30 p.m. after driving for 8 hours.

The journey from Ohio to DC was also very lovely up until dark. Ohio and Pennsylvania both have lots of trees and rolling hills. Beautiful corn fields and great old red barns dot the landscape between Ohio and ...well...I don't know where exactly we were when it got dark...BUT it was lovely til we got there...

We stopped for dinner at a Ruby Tuesdays. There was nothing really exceptional about it...Except that I was pretty much traveling in pjs (which I find totally normal -- and no, they weren't really pjs but they were super big, super comfy, gray yoga pants, one of my fave black TTU t-shirts, and my black Reefs -- clearly acceptable travel attire for an 8 hour car ride although from the stares I garnered I'm not sure the other patrons agreed) and that I was with my exceptionally fun friends the Grimmetts...BUT...the waitress did say "'EWES want some more so-dah???"... Wonderfully Pennsylavanian jargon apparently...And diction that made me smile almost as much as hearing the melodies of foreign languages spoken in the Houston airport terminal.

Truly other than being on a roller coaster ride of emotion from wonder at the beauty of the countryside of Ohio & Pennsylvania to anxiety, fear, nervousness and even a few tears while driving through the dark (and texting with M'in, Lara and Mom to keep me feeling sane and safe -- thank you all for being my anchors tonight as you have been so many times) and on to complete excitement, elation and a sense of awe as I arrived in MY country's capital city, I have very little to report.

It's no longer Wednesday and since the rest of Thursday holds numerous activities including Ford's Theater, Peterson House, the DC Duck Tour, the White House, St. John's Church and an evening viewing of many of the monuments, I should probably attempt to restrain my excitement and get at least 5 or 6 hours of sleep.

Tonight...or more accurately, this morning... I leave you with a quote about Washington DC from Mark Twain...

"Washington is no doubt the boss town in the country for a man to live in who wants to get all the pleasure he can in a given number of months. But I wasn't built that way. I don't want the earth at one gulp. All of us are always losing some pleasure that we might have if we could be everywhere at once. I lose Washington, for instance, for the privilege of saving my life. My doctor told me that if I wanted my three score and 10, I must go to bed early, keep out of social excitements, and behave myself. You can't do that in Washington. Nobody does."

I'm going to try to 'behave myself' in Washington, but mostly I'm going to 'gulp' as much of its grandeur as I can and share it as best as possible with you.

Sights & Souls at Loraine County Fair...

Today was another great day...I spent the day hanging out with Clara, Cody, Jason & Jessie -- Jessie had to work this morning...BOO work...but I was out of my pjs before she got home...I'm certain she was impressed...AND then we took Marley to stay with Jessie's parents while we go to DC...

On our way back from Akron we took a small detour -- something like 30 miles -- to have Sonic...I would have felt bad about this IF I were the only one who needed to feed my Sonic cravings, but Jessie also LOVES Sonic and we brought Jason a Sonic drink as well...So, it was a lovely side trip through an area of Ohio that does happen to have a Sonic...and Jessie and I also saw a truly funny sign at an ATM machine...I'll post the pic...I can't promise about the order the pics will appear so you'll have to figure it out...BUT think about this...It's at an ATM -- which requires that the person be DRIVING a vehicle AND it's written in not terribly large or obvious print...Enjoy the genius that the sign exemplifies...

After we got back from the Sonic run, we went to the Loraine County Fair...It was in many ways like any county fair I've ever been to...Yep, they have rednecks in Ohio...Apparently no part of the great U. S. of A. is lacking in this particular breed of people...

It was enjoyable. I had to have 'fair food' of course, but rather than the fried cheese, or corn dog, or funnel cake, I opted for sweet potato fries...Pretty yummy...Not too greasy... Something new and different -- which is by the way a big part of travel for me...Doing/Trying things that are new and different...

It's late and we leave for DC tomorrow afternoon...SO... I will leave you with a parting travel quote andl let the pics of tonight's trip to the Loraine County Fair tell the tale for you...

“People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” - Dagobert D. Runes

I just love airports and long lay overs...

...NO...Seriously...I do...I really had a great time today at the Houston airport...I realize that maybe I am at times a tad bit sarcastic, but I actually had a great time at the airport and when I say that I am a big fan of airports and fairly long lay overs, I am completely serious...

Today, I flew into Houston and had a great experience on the first day of the second leg of the Queen's travel tour...(first day of the second leg...that's a mouthful, huh??)

My morning at the airport in LBK started the way every trip to the airport for me begins...with the pat down...When you have a lot of metal in your body, you always set off the security alarm -- in fact, I'd be concerned if I didn't set off the buzzer, I'd frankly be worried about anybody bringing on to the plane the amount of metal I'm carrying unless, of course, like me, they’re carrying it internally...and by internally, I don't mean they've temporarily stashed it in some orifice, but that it's permanently implanted -- So, I had the pat down...which would be much more entertaining and worth the price of my ticket if they would actually let me choose the employee that pats me down. The woman that did the pat down was nice, but seemed much more interested in the Indian gentleman that was waiting for his wife to practically be unrolled from her sari (or whatever her customary Indian garb is called (I should look that up)) and removing all her jewelry so that she could make it past the checkpoint. The security woman asked me several times if I would be more comfortable being patted down where he wasn't watching, if I wanted to be patted down in private -- which sounded way too intimate of an encounter to be having with someone I just met...AND I’ve been patted down in numerous airports by now SO I didn’t need privacy. What I needed was for the cute guy who was diligently securing my flip flops and laptop bag to help with this procedure....BUT, no such luck...maybe if I keep traveling they will tell me about some 'frequently felt-up flyer' program...one in which I choose who does the pat down...A girl can dream....

Anyway, The flight from LBK to Houston was for the most part uneventful...I read...I, of course, endured a good bit of shaking and such on descent, but such as the way it goes when you travel out of LBK on an ExpressJet or Eagle or whatever they want to call those tiny planes that compromise the ‘commuter jet service’ fleet from lovely West Texas to anywhere worth going. The ‘commuter’ jet fleet makes me seriously question what is meant by commuter service of any type...In fact, for me commuter has a very negative connotation...ie, commuter parking at Texas Tech -- another name for 'park in Wolfforth and hike to campus' or ride an always over-crowded Citi-bus. Hence the current thought going thru my brain that the ‘commuter’ rail service from Boston to Concord I’ve been considering might best be avoided by simply renting a taxi when I get there...But that’s a different story for another day when I’m actually headed to Concord and not to Cleveland via Houston....

When I arrived at Houston (outside in the sun, walking down rickety rolling metal steps in the heat, and across a half a mile of tarmac to actually get to the terminal -- apparently they don’t give lots of priority to securing actual jetways for the ‘jumbo commuter’ jets that fly out of small airports like LBK) I was comfortable with the fact that I had a 2 hour and 18 minute lay over. It meant that I could easily walk the mile and a half to the tram, ride it for 57 seconds and be at the terminal I was departing from. I was comfortable with that...and frankly I must have appeared very comfortable and confident because the sweet West Texas farmer in his pearl snap short sleeve plaid shirt and John Deere cap followed me to the tram and said he was “Sure glad you know where you are going, little lady.”...

I was comfortable with the time I had for my lay over until I got to terminal D/E...At which point I became ECSTATIC about the time I had between flights.

Terminal D/E at the Houston airport houses the international terminal and other Continental departures. I immediately encounter a virtual rainbow of individuals. Many speaking languages I could never hope to understand (although given enough time I could have learned because in this very terminal was a Rosetta Stone kiosk which sold guides to learning a plethora of languages in mere moments) ...and yet I somehow found the chatter oddly comforting and melodic. I was on an adventure, a journey, and hearing people speak in numerous tongues of their various countries made me feel like a real adventure was beginning.

Besides that lovely fact, I was also greeted by a big, beautiful yellow and red sign that said PAPPADEUX....What??!!?? That’s right dear friends the Houston airport has a Pappadeux...and it just happened to be lunch time.

I walked toward the Pappadeux beside a lovely black woman from Jersey -- I know that she was from Jersey because... and those of you who know about my severe stranger danger are going to be shocked ...she and I chatted casually throughout the terminal about where we were from, what kind of travel we were doing AND our pleasant surprise of being able to have Pappadeux while we waited for our planes. She was incredibly excited about the seafood gumbo. She was headed to Orlando and was apparently seeing the inside of the third airport for the day -- and it was evident that none of the others had the big bold yellow and red sign that had proudly announced that Pappadeux was a viable lunch option in an airport terminal. I ordered the Shrimp Cocktail -- the one with avocado and pico -- and a dinner salad with Cajun Roumalade dressing -- by the way, roumalade is apparently just a very fancy name for 1000 island. I got mine to go, so that I could sit in the food court area and absorb the experience of seeing people from all over the world sit and enjoy fast food... There was some sort of team...All young men, all dressed in black Adidas sweat suits. I never got a clear look at what the logo on the left breast of their jackets said...But at least part of it said TEAM Dynamic...I also sat one table over from a large group that I am guessing was from Norway or Sweden...And to my right sat a tourist-y gentleman wearing plaid shorts, black socks and sandals. His family deposited him there after asking him what food and soda (soda, not Coke, but soda...so, clearly these folks weren’t from Texas either) he wanted. Although I’m still not quite sure why they asked because they left long before he finished his answer. Leaving him to finish discussing with anyone that was listening the fact that he didn’t like diet Pepsi or really Pepsi products but would drink diet Coke.

After I finished my lunch, I walked over to one of the numerous places selling books and magazines and grabbed the Texas Monthly with everybody’s favorite pirate/lawyer/brilliant coach, Mike Leach on the cover. I then sauntered over to the chocolate shop and bought a couple of Godiva raspberry filled dark chocolate squares and a diet Dr. Pepper -- which is apparently a rare find (the bottled Diet DP not the chocolates) because the woman that worked in the Swatch store wanted to know where I’d found that and was pleased to know that this traveler from West Texas had let her in on the little terminal secret of where she could get her daily fix of diet DP just steps from where she worked.

Yes, I went to the Swatch watch store, too. Swatch stores make me nostalgic -- odd, I know -- But Swatch watches were terribly popular when I was in high school. The coolest thing was to have more than one and to wear them simultaneously. I only had three Swatch watches in my entire high school career, but I still love the watches, even now...And I have to admit that since they are fashionable and water resistant to 30 meters (no watch is water PROOF according to the sales lady at the Swatch shop) I am actually considering stopping back by the Swatch shop on my next outing to the Houston airport, terminal D and buying myself another Swatch (or three -- maybe I can re-introduce that trend ;)

It was time to go to my gate and wait...But I didn’t have to wait for long...Apparently at large airports when you are flying on a large plane and not a ‘commuter’ jet, boarding starts at least 45 minutes before departure.

Departure...hmmmm...I was excited about getting to Cleveland, but I sort of hated to depart the Houston airport...Pappadeux, duty free shops, incredible people watching, tons of places selling a nice variety of reading materials, and even specialty shops...what’s not to love???

The flight to Cleveland was nice. The young lady beside me was headed to Connecticut. She is in a long distance relationship with a guy that lives in Houston. She normally reads on the plane and did have a copy of The Time Traveler’s Wife with her. She also wanted to know what I was reading ...Chang & Eng ... and wrote down the name of my book as well as the names of the three others I was carrying in my computer bag. The couple in front of me was playing a game on their iPhone called Worder...I downloaded the app...The interesting thing here is that yes, I, I who do not talk to or even generally make eye contact with, strangers talked to no fewer than half a dozen new people on this trip -- and that was on the first day before I ever arrived at my destination...And yes, I may even consider calling people I don’t know ‘new people’ and not psycho strangers... Travel changes a person ;)

My plane landed in Cleveland on time...and it was a lovely 72 degrees when I landed. Jason, Cody and Clara picked me up from the airport (Jessie was working and couldn’t come get me) and we drove to LaGrange, had Subway and headed to the Grimmett household.

It’s a lovely house in a nice neighborhood. When Jessie got home, we went for a long walk through the neighborhood and sat in the white rocking chairs on the front porch talking. Thus far the Queen’s Travel Tour is a glorious success...

This afternoon we head to the county fair... It will probably be about 75 degrees...And it will probably be a collection of sites, sounds and souls much like any county fair across the country, but I’m excited about it...

Day one done, Day two has begun...What’s not to love????