So, I have been whining for John to take me to Washington, D.C., just me and him, since we took all of the kids 3 years ago and I had to walk past museums that were not kid-friendly with my mouth watering.
So, I whined again, and he came home and said "Guess what, we are going!" and I got really upset and cried because he spent too much money and I was going to miss Joan (see what you get, men? Can't win for losing.).
BUT after I wrapped my mind around the idea (OK, AND after Tamara came and was fabulous with Joan AND after we were actually in the car driving away) I was THRILLED! I lived in D.C. as a child when my dad went to law school, and I can remember taking the metro and going to the Smithsonian, so it feels like it is a part of me.
John got us a very nice hotel, but he also got a bad cold! That seriously dampened the fun of it, but he still let me drag him around and experience lots of things.
I really enjoyed taking the METRO. I like watching people and wondering where they are going. I got to talk to lots of people, and they were very friendly. It was fun figuring out with John which train to take (it is pretty simple, although sometimes I got my D.C. map mixed up and we would walk a half mile before I would turn it around and walk back the other way).
We prayed each day that we would have the experiences God wanted us to, and it was really interesting how our days would change from what we had originally planned.
The most remarkable:
- a security guard gave us VIP passes and we were able to go and tour the Holocaust mueseum (life changing).
-John noticing that there was a tree-planting ceremony going on at the Capital, and we stopped to watch that and see real politics in action.
-John asked a security guard at the Pentagon station why there was no photography allowed in that station, and he invited us to go up and see the 9/11 memorial (he let us in without paying fare). That was also life-changing. I did not realize how many people died at the Pentagon. I have made an effort since then to learn more about 9/11.
Touring the Holocaust Museum was the most life-altering. I have read a few books about the Holocaust, but I learned many new things (most of them really sad that I will not post here). Most of Germany did not support Hitler's party, but they were not united against him, either.
Hitler used propaganda and youth education groups to build public support. He did not win the election, but was put in as chancellor. Then there was a fire in a public building, and he blamed the Communist party, and began enforcing a 'state of emergency' where he was then able to put down anyone who opposed him. Then began the book burnings...
I have heard it said that America today is in a similar state to Germany pre World War II- we are highly SKILLED (experts- can build bombs and perform genetic experiments on our neighbors) but not EDUCATED (leaders that see what is happening and are willing to take a stand!).
So, after being overwhelmed by that, I was delighted to go to the Library of Congress. I got to see the mosaic I remember touching when I was 6, and I got to look at Thomas Jefferson's library! Not the originals, because his were destroyed in a fire, but they had all of the same-edition books that they could find. They were displayed in a room filled with a curving bookshelf with glass paneling , so you could read the titles of every book. It was luscious and inspiring- THIS is what he studied so that he could be prepared to know what would make a GREAT government! There were many editions of the bible in various languages. I lust after the time and leisure to study that much!
We also got to go to an asian art museum, to the National Archive to see the Declaration of Independence, the Bureau of Printing and Engraving (I was more sickened than impressed- thanks for printing all that fancy play money and increasing inflation! Just sayin'). We also got to go to the Arlington Cemetery and see the grave of the unknown soldier. We thought we were very privileged- there was a funeral while we were there, with a military band playing strong but melancholy music and marching through the cemetery. Later I found out- there are an average of 20+ funerals a day there! So, we weren't special in that respect, but it was a very good experience.
THANK YOU, JOHN!
