A Historic Week?

Airports are fabulous. They make everyone smile and smile again. This semester we flew to Washington, D.C. the week of March 15.

The House voted on Sunday, March 21.
A historic day.
Obama-Care was resurrected and passed -- 219 to 212.
Does anyone care what the public wants?

Democrats cheered.
Security and care will be provided for millions.

Republicans gnashed their teeth.
More debt. One step deeper into an entitlement society.

The week prior to “the vote” did not make everybody smile. However, we were not in D.C. to participate with the 9,000 tea party activists protesting Obama's Health Care Reform, or to ban together with the groups protesting immigration and/or Afghanistan.

We observed the National Mall “set-up” for the protest events, and a few poster carriers riding the metro, but our purpose was to visit our student teachers and see the sights. That we did.

Yes, this week will go down in history. For us it became a “brush” with a historical event that SOME are grateful for and ALL will pay for! History tells us that U.S. social reform is never repealed. Time will reveal the ramifications of this historic day.

For once the weather was fantastic!! Temperatures varied from the low 60s to the high 70s. The pictures below are the best yet of the historic building used as a Civil War hospital and now as a performing arts high school.

Our J&J and M&M DC days of sightseeing took us to The Air and Space Museum, The National Art Gallery, The Museum of Natural History, The American History Museum, The Capitol Building, The Library of Congress, The Washington Monument, WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial, and Arlington Cemetery.

There are lots of things to see, do, and feel in D.C.

Spend hours in the Air and Space Museum.

Turn your back on the National Art Gallery.

Turn to the right and stand in front of the Washington Monument.

Turn to the left and stand in front of the U.S. Capitol.

Walk, walk, walk,walk,walk.

Stand by the only DaVinci painting in the United States.

Enjoy the inside gardens of the National Art Museum.

Experience the inside of a shark's mouth in
the Museum of Natural History.

Allow Georgia to be on your mind at the
WWII Monument.

Blow your top at the WWII fountain.

Enjoy the beautiful weather.

Pose as "The Three Amigos."

Feel very small compared to Lincoln.

Walk from the American History Museum to the Capitol.
It's a long way. Stand in front of the west side of the Capitol.

Sense a bit of moisture forming on your forehead. Definitely warm.

I try to learn something new each time I visit D.C. Here's my newly acquired knowledge:

(1)The current Statuary Hall (internet photo above) inside the U.S. Capitol once housed the House of Representatives (1807 to 1857).

Brass plates on the floor show desk locations of Representatives that also served as Presidents. John Quincy Adams' desk location is sometimes referred to as "The Whispering Spot." As the story goes, Adams pretended to sleep, but actually was listening to political rivals whispering across the room.

The fun part was when our guide walked to the other side of the room, cupped her hands, and whispered close to the floor, we heard everything she said, and the room was filled with noisy people! Cool!
(2) Our Capitol guide asked, “Who’s buried in George Washington’s tomb?” Her answer, “Nobody!”

When the U.S. Capitol was designed, a tomb underneath the rotunda was intended as the burying place for George Washington. However, Washington specified in his will that he wanted to be buried at Mount Vernon, not under the U.S. Capitol. The tomb remains, but is empty. Unfortunately, Capitol tours do not include viewing this tomb. I didn’t even know there was a tomb in the Capitol. This photo came from the internet too.

Stand in front of the Library of Congress
with the east side of the Capitol in view.

Just try to take in all of the paintings, symbolism, and statues
displayed in the Library of Congress. Impossible.

Feel reverence and patriotism at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Lots of things to see, do, and feel in Washington, D.C. Guess we'll go back again. Tired feet. Weary bones. It's all worth it when you can go with family. Thanks J&J and K&C for making our trips memorable.