The District Sleeps Alone Tonight
Mom, Dad, and Annie came Friday, and I showed them around the local area that evening, driving through Fairfax and showing them the roads around here. We ate at Famous Dave's, a place I knew they'd like (and a place I love, being one of the few restaurants around here that serves quality sweet tea, in addition to the awesome meat and cornbread muffins). Saturday, however, was the Big Day In The Big City. I have to say, this tour guide thing is getting easier every time I do it. Maybe I have a future in the tourism business? Maybe I should record my own Newbie's Guide to D.C. as a podcast, sell it, and let you do your own Bret-guided tours? Maybe that's already been done, but not by me. Blast.
Regardless, I tried to pack in as much as possible for them to see, especially Annie, because we just don't know when she'll get to visit next. I started the tour from the Foggy Bottom Metro, going south to the Lincoln Memorial. We then visited the Vietnam War Memorial, a natural next stop. I learned something here: a man from my hometown died during the war, and Dad was a pallbearer at his funeral. He knew him in school. A couple of my uncles also served back then, so the connections run strong. It had been a few years since I had walked past the wall, but I was glad we did. I could write an entire short story just on that experience alone.
After lunch at the Old Post Office (where Annie got to pose at one of those digital-camera acts that superimpose your head on a picture so it looks like you're shaking hands with the President), we spent a few hours in the Museum of Natural History, a staple for any first-time D.C. visitor. It was close to getting dark by the time we'd seen what the Museum had to offer, but since the National Archives are so close and none of us had ever been there, we decided to make a quick stop to see nothing less than the founding documents of freedom and democracy in America. I think my parents were most impressed by this, and Annie enjoyed visiting the same building that was featured prominently in National Treasure. She even pulled a Nicholas Cage and bought a replica Declaration of Independence, although I don't think it has any secret maps printed on it in invisible 3-D ink made by Benjamin Franklin.
By the time we exited the Archives, the sun was fast setting, but everyone seemed to want to keep going. I suggested that the last best thing to do would be to walk to the Capitol and take a few pictures there. I'm glad I did. When we arrived, the wind was easily washing away any hope of a true reflection in the Captiol's pool, instead leaving a faint trace of a ghostly outline. I inspected the Capitol itself for a few moments, while Mom took a few pictures of Annie standing in front so she could add them to her scrapbook and show them off to her classmates. The setting sun had begun its light show against the reflective marble of the Capitol, casting the entire building in a glow. The real scenery, however, came when I turned around and saw the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian buildings silhouetted against a fiery orange sky. I nearly filled my camera trying to capture this moment.
We eventually made it to the Capitol steps, when Annie rushed forward and hugged a cornerstone, thrilled to simply be touching such an important building. Mom finished up her roll of film, while I maxed out my memory card - two photographers in the same mold. A nice man took a group picture for us, then remarked on the beautiful sunset before walking away. A couple of lovebirds stood in a tight embrace, kissing in a cradle of marble. Even Annie was slightly subdued, in awe, though she did her best to take even more pictures on her camera than before. Dad stood silently, for the most part, looking out onto the Mall. He'd tell me later that he never would have ended up coming to DC at all if I hadn't moved up here and been able to give a personal tour. I could tell that he was thankful for getting the chance, but frankly, I was just returning the favor, since they've given me the opportunity to receive the education that led me here.
It had been a long time since I'd been together with my family when nothing else had to be going on, when we were all enjoying the same experience at the same time. It felt good.
The sun went down, and the wind began whipping into a frenzy. We decided it was time to finally head back toward Fairfax, and we were all thankful for the nearby Capitol South Metro.
I was thankful for a lot more than that.
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