So I suppose I should finish up about our DC trip...my final thoughts on the Holocaust Museum shooting is that our thoughts are with the family of the slain guard and, still, a confusion over how someone can think like that person did.
After all this excitement we went to the Museum of American History, where it was nice to learn more about our country's history. With the heat of the day we went back to the hotel fairly early to kick back, sit by the pool then head out to dinner. We wanted some good Mexican and found a great little place called Rita's right down the road- excellent food, VERY relaxed atmosphere (one couple had their dog with them on the patio) and perfect sized portions. Viv, of course, HAD to get fried ice cream (one of her weaknesses), which was good.
Thursday came and we again headed into DC, starting off with the National Air and Space Museum. We caught a planetarium show (free, our favorite price!!!) and I could have easily spent the entire day there. One of the few pictures I took on the trip was of the model of the USS Enterprise that had been used for taping all the episodes tucked in the downstairs store- pretty cool, if you ask me. Fantastic exhibits all the wat around and, I found out later, one of my friends from high school builds some of the UAVs we saw!!! Here I had to get some of the freeze-dried astronaut ice cream. We had seen it the day before but I believe it's better from Air and Space- not sure why but that's how it is in my head!!!
Next we went to the National Museum of Natural History. This was excellent too, simply amazing what was in the building. We saw (okay, Viv saw, I fell asleep) a 3D IMAX show about dinosaurs and Viv got to see the Hope Diamond. In one of the stores Viv fell in love with a pendant and somehow she ended up getting it for her birthday (can't imagine how that happened!!!).
After this we went back to the room and relaxed a bit, then went back into DC to meet up with two friends of mine that I had gone to school with in Hawai'i, Josh Edelstein and Dennis Chong. I hadn't seen them in 22 years and, though excited, was a little nervous heading to see them. We met at the Capital City Brewery, right next to Union Station, and any nervousness I'd had melted immediately- it felt like the years rolled away as we hugged and they met Viv. We sat down for a while for food and to catch up and it really was great how all of us clicked back like no time had passed and how Viv fit right in. As we talked we mentioned that Viv wanted to see the Supreme Court building; we ended up walking over because it was so close and got some great, fun pictures of the the Supreme Court building, the Capitol and all of us. I just had this great, warm feeling the whole time, riding in a river of memories and glad my friends were still so close in heart.
As we headed back and were talking on the Metro we made it clear that whenever Josh and Dennis came up this way they had a place to stay, and it was hard saying goodbye. I promised them and myself that it would not be another 22 years before seeing them again- friends like they are and have been don't come along often. After they had left and we were in the last stretch I thanked Viv for the night and for being there with me- it made it all the more special having her there and how easily she was accepted by people so important to me.
Friday we were pretty exhausted and rested up for the trip back, we didn't really do much at all. We got going Saturday and Viv swears I was cursing more on just the New Jersey section than I had the rest of the week combined, which I think was true. The puppies were VERY happy to see us when we got back- we had never been away from Seamus for that long and he was all but surgically attached to me until I went back to work on Wednesday.
Overall it was a great trip- we got to see and do a lot, see friends and strengthen friendships and enjoy some time just for us. The shooting definitely made an impact on us, and for this and many other reasons I think the trip will always stand out in our memories.
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