7/24/16 21:00
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A family trip
to DC has been something we get excited for.
Over the years we have made the trip with Joe and Diana. Once we made the trip with Phil and Jenn and
their crew and our crew and Joe and Diana.
It may have been the first and the last that all of us could make a trip like that again. Soon three kids will be in their twenties and
they have their lives. This weekend, Ali and I had planned a romantic weekend away from the kids, but that changed since we had
one tag along. With a very a good
reason. Bella is weaning off her
epilepsy medicine and we did not want to leave her alone with Joe and
Diana. She may have an episode. Her neurologist said it may be more likely
when she is completely off her medicine.
In the last few weeks we have been weaning her off. For a couple of years it was 7.5 ml every
twelve hours and making sure she had a good night’s sleep. It was is important, especially for an
epileptic.
I didn’t
expect to write that much about Bella. I
wanted to share the long drive we encountered on Friday as we were crushed by
the rush hour traffic and finally making it to the prestigious Mayflower
hotel. It is just blocks away or an
eleven minute walk to the White House.
Before you assume I paid for this stay, pull back the judgement and
listen. The hotel was an award from a raffle through AAA. Yes, now you know someone who won a prize. We were greeted at the door by a uniformed
bell hop. We unloaded the rental car and
checked into the lobby. Our room
included parking and complimentary breakfast for two.
The lobby was
stellar, marble floors, gold leaf, intricate chandeliers, slight mood light
softly lit from the tall ceiling. This
hotel has served presidents, has been the homes for our Vice Presidents and
countless dignitaries, hey even Walt Disney stayed here. Our room was on the eighth floor and there
was a complimentary gift, fruit and imported water waiting for us. There was a living room with a fireplace as
well as a separate bedroom. Ali and
Bella took up residence the bedroom. I
pulled out the convertible. I was beat
and after one beer, I fell asleep quickly.
The next
morning, I meditated and went for a jog.
I passed the White House, and ran down hill to the mall. There were not too many tourists out although
it was already hot and humid and it was not even 8 AM. Circled around the Washington Monument. One day I’ll get in there and go up to the
top. I ran down to the Lincoln monument
and paused the timer on the app since I wanted to take some pictures. It’s not
every day that I get to climb the stairs to this incredible monument and take
in the splendor of the faint yellow morning light which stretched across the
clean floor. I ran back to the hotel,
past the World War II monument and should have taken it in, but I was hot and
wanted to get back.
After
breakfast we took a taxi to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American
History. I could have stayed in there
for hours. This is where the flag from
the war of 1812, the flag which inspired Francis Scott Key to write the Star
Spangled banner. There are artifacts
which cover, media, innovation, science, war and the presidents. In fact the last top hat that Lincoln wore on
that fateful night at Ford’s theatre is on display. We have been to this museum before, but we
didn’t start on the first floor where there is a bright silver Tucker car. Like I said, I could have been in there for
hours. Having Bella with us was a sort of drag.
She’s thirteen going on eighteen.
She responded to most of my questions by rolling her eyes and it was
plain to see she had enough of the museum.
She’s the sort of who keeps quiet, barely says a word. She was bored.
Anyway, we
started to walk to the National portrait gallery. After walking in the intense heat, through
the crowded sidewalks, the strollers, the seniors who God bless them were
shuffling, the water salesmen who pushed coolers from each corner and called
out, “water…one dollar.” We took a taxi back to the hotel with the plan that we
would relax in the cool luxury. I took a
nap. Most of us took naps.
We got up and walked down to the White House.
I would highly
recommend visiting the FDR memorial, MLK memorial as well as the Jefferson. All are in close proximity, but make an
effort to see them at night. The light
and sounds of each memorial will pull you into the moment. On our previous trips to DC - the FDR has
been peaceful. Usually, there are less
people who venture there. Last night was
very different. There was a caravan of
bikes with blinking lights and a leader who cut through the crowd, calling out
or yelling about the administration of FDR.
I was ready to start swinging when he brought his wheeled crew to where
Eleanor Roosevelt’s statue is. She
stands alone in a dim alcove. She is
around a corner and far away and the mighty water falls which crash into the
boulders. Bella stood next to the statue
for a picture - more to appease us since she has stood there over the
years. What was more disturbing where
the glowing phones and pads and lost minds of those who were playing a game
rather than taking in the majesty of the monument. So, this visit to FDR did not meet our
expectations. MLK was breathtaking and I
walked along the edge and read all of his quotes regarding injustice and
peace. Imagine if he was running for
President? After visiting the Jefferson, we drove back to the hotel. I pulled out the convertible and made it my
bed for another night. I am not complaining.
I had a local IPA, DC Brau. It
was a little hoppy and citrusy. It hit
the spot. I enjoyed it before falling
asleep and the one was enough for me.
This morning
we were up and planned to go to Baltimore to the Orioles. The thought of driving seven hours after
being outside under the sun was daunting.
We skipped the game. The last
stop before heading home was Fort Stevens which was one of the many forts
protecting DC during the Civil War. This
is where Abraham Lincoln was shot at while he was visiting the troops
there. He is only the second sitting
President to have been shot at during war.
James Madison was the first in the War of 1812. The fort is in a poor section of DC. The grass was over grown although it is part
of the National Parks. Beer bottles were
scattered about and there were two plaques.
One to signify that a free African American woman’s home was demolished
to make room for the fort. The other was
a plaque to signify that Lincoln was shot at.
There was no parking. There was an abandoned building and we parked
close to it and walked in the tall grass.
Are you disappointed? Yeah. We drove home and made it back to Long Island
in roughly 5 hours which included a couple of stops.
Thank you for
reading this.
