Where’s my “get of out jail free” card?

The family unit is reunitied! Mark is back after a busy time at the homefront. The girls and I didn’t sit pining for him to return however. DC is a town where anything is possible with a car and credit card. On Sunday, our friend Tim joined Greg and the family for a day of kayaking and biking. The Potomac is much cleaner than when I lived here and we all had a great time paddling around T. Roosevelt island and swimming in the river. When our 2 hours was up, we hopped on our bikes and rode the Capital trail for a ways. After a nice dinner, we all passed out from our extra exercise adventure.
Memorial Day was spent honoring the dead. Greg’s folks are buried at Arlington Cemetery so two birds were damaged with one stone when we went and put flowers on his folks grave and toured the sites there. The eternal flame and tomb of the Unknown Soldier are worth seeing and I can’t remember ever having been there. The previous day plus the heat and humidity were forces that undermined our desire to do much outdoor touring so we went movie going instead. Mariah and the guys went and saw Pirates 3 (aye matey, that they were!) and Olivia and I saw Shrek 3. We lived the urban experience but once was enough.
Tuesday had the kids and I wandering around the National Zoo where we found the famous panda’s and other assorted animals. Later we went riding on the mall where we enjoyed the Lincoln memorial and all the war memorials. The weather was very cooperative.
Many years ago, one of my many jobs was working at the US Patent office. It has a new facility and a completely different feel. The search room where stacks of paper patents lived and people would scurry around trying to find information has now been replaced by banks of computers where searchers find the information they need with a touch of a button. The kids and I left Greg to finish up his work while we went and toured Old Town Alexandria. Row houses and cobble stone streets with upscale shops and restaurants line the Potomac River where George Washington once roamed. The day ended with the glorious return of the head of the family. Mark’s flight was supposed to end in Providence RI but we were able to pick him up because he had to change planes in Baltimore. After a nice dinner at Fell’s Point (Eat Bertha’s Mussels), we returned to Greg’ house.
Thursday morning was a forgetful morning. I went to go get Mark some coffee at the Airstream and …..whoops, it was gone. The luck you push sometimes pushes back and I guess it is the price you pay. We had to bail out the Airstream from a tow yard. I guess it‘s better than bailing your kid out of jail. $200 later and in need of a new lock, we found the Airstream a better home on a quiet little street a few more blocks away.
Mark had not gotten the pleasure of touring the DC mall so we returned once again to see the Air and Space museum and the inside of the Native American museum. The Air and Space museum had the latest in space technology available for our perusal. The Bhutan rocket and balloon capsule that went around the globe were there plus the Wright Bros plane that has always been there. If you are a space cadet, that is the place to go. At the Native American museum they had a wonderful exhibit on beaded Indian outfits. The girls and I went to a demonstration by a Kiowa woman where she talked about her upbringing and Kiowa traditions. She was a beader who had won best of show at the Santa Fe Indian Market. We had a nice conversation after her talk about NM where she is from. I would have gotten homesick but I know I will return in 2 months.
On our way back down the mall Olivia decided she wanted a Junior Ranger Badge. For all you “wanna be travelers” or who are already on the road, please take note if you have children. All parks have a junior ranger program and it is definitely worth doing. Not only is it educational but it is fun too. Late in the afternoon we rode over to the Franklin D Roosevelt memorial which is new since I lived here. It is one of the most extensive, most well designed monuments on the mall. FDR was a powerful president and it is fitting that he should have such a moving memorial. Waterfalls mixed with quotes and statues that quietly tell the tale of one of America’s darkest hours and triumphant return.
Now when I wake up in the morning I feel a certain urge to go and check on the Airstream….hmmm. Mark got to play with Greg and his cousin rebuilding Greg’s front portico and then later going and looking at blacksmithing equipment. Olivia and I made a morning of it by going to see the Washington Folk Festival in Glen Echo. I have forgotten how beautiful the parkways are to drive around DC. Just miles and miles of tree lined highway without a hint that you are in a major metropolitan area. The folk festival was really quaint. We saw a set of twins who played remarkable blues music especially considering they were 11 years old and shouldn’t have a clue what the blues were. Their song Teddy Bear Blues brought a tear to my eye. It is always a pleasure to see young people carrying on the tradition of homemade music.
Greg lives in a small townhouse development that strikes one as just perfect for block parties since the block is well defined. Sure enough that afternoon they had a party with a bluegrass band and appetizers competing for best in taste. Voting was done with dollars and all money went to charity. The band caught Mariah and I singing along and at their first break asked us how we knew all the songs. One thing led to another and next thing we knew we were up playing with the band. It was great fun and very unexpected. Later that evening Tina and her friend Dave came and joined us. We started talking about food and somehow a plan formulated for the next day to go down to Polks Creek and eat crabs. Maryland blue crabs are considered a delicacy around these parts, much like green chile is in NM and it was a grand adventure showing the kids how people from the Chesapeake area boil them and eat them. Dave is from the Delmarva peninsula which until about 35 years ago was an isolated backwoods rural area. The construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge changed all that. Dave had a great time showing the westerners the best way to get all the meat (not a lot by the way), out of the crab. Mariah and Olivia enjoyed the experience, especially Mariah who spent some of her time making artistic photos with a crab. Hopefully I can get her to post them on the web.
Monday was a day of farewell to DC as we headed north to continue our journey. We are now in Gettyburg and spent yesterday touring the battlefield and learning about mid 19th century battle tactics and war horrors. We all learned so much our heads are bursting. Somewhere on our journey Mark had picked up a copy of the History Channel’s Gettyburg Expedition Guide and it was so helpful. It is really hard to appreciate what ridge is until you are standing on it. When you just look across the landscape, you can’t see them but when you are on them, their advantages become obvious. So little slope, so much increase in odds….
This edition of the Meanderthals journal must come to an end or every one will feel like they are reading War and Peace. Hugs to all from the complete Meanderthal unit.

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