Getting Lit

Holiday travel, reignited commitment, and inspiration all around.

Mom and I just got back from a whirlwind visit to Washington, D.C. which was amazing, but came with some bugs  - Mom’s Covid, and my stupid head cold. So this post will be loose and hopefully typo free.

We’re big supporters of the National Park Foundation, and we’d been invited the last few years to attend the Christmas tree lighting in President’s Park but it just never worked out. I’m so glad it did this time.

We got a chance to do some touring, as well as meet with leaders at the Foundation and National Park Service, and the experience has only deepened my commitment to the Parks. It also reminded me how much I miss getting on the road and discovering new parks and historic sites, so I’m hoping to get back in the swing of those road trips next year. (More about 2024 plans soon.)

We stayed at the Hotel Washington, right next to the National Mall. I was trying to figure out how to get one of those gorgeous gingko leaf tables in my carry-on.

We visited the Washington National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the country (behind St. John the Divine in NYC). I’m not religious at all, but I do love the grandeur and reverence. I especially liked the colored light filtering from the stained glass onto the state flags.

The vibe is progressive. Matthew Shepard is interred there, and the day we visited was his birthday, so they were going to have a special memorial service for him. It hurts even now to think of what he suffered.

The stained glass is even progressive. There was a beautiful two-paned tribute to the struggle for Civil Rights, and the window above was dedicated to space exploration. (Science! I know!) The highlighted center of the red circle is an actual moon rock sample, apparently one of only two in the U.S. Pretty neat.

Waiting for the tree lighting ceremony to begin. Apparently last year the weather was not nearly so cooperative, so we lucked out.

The tree and the Bidens. I have to say, it was pretty exciting to be so close to a president. They sat in the audience for the rest of the show. (It’s airing December 15 on CBS, I think. Dionne Warwick, Joe Walsh, Samara Joy, and Darren Criss were highlights.)

Side note: to keep the space secure, they close off the two streets on the sides to traffic, with police and secret service everywhere, and to secure the other two streets on the ends, they line the curbs, bumper to bumper, with big vehicles like snow plows and buses. So, for example, a car bomb couldn’t get through and drive across the lawn to the gathering. Something I’d never thought about.

The next morning we did a tour of the White House, which was beautifully decorated.

The rooms are smaller than you’d think, but still, it gave me chills being there in the midst of all that history.

We capped off the trip with a visit to the incredible National Museum of African American History & Culture. You can start in this contemplation and reflection room, then go downstairs and work your way up through time.

It’s overwhelming how much there is to see and learn, plus it’s just emotionally devastating so I could only take a few hours, but when I’m there next I will go back to absorb even more. It was wonderful to read about heroes I was familiar with, and many I was not. An absolute must see, and an important and necessary addition to the Smithsonian museum family.

Another side note: I had hoped to also fit in a trip to the Holocaust Museum, because apparently I wanted to be totally depressed by the time we got on the plane to come home. I came to my senses and will save that one for next time, and give each of these museums their own day.

Whew! I’m going to take some DayQuil and get the week going, so welcome to December, everyone. Thanks for reading, and feel free to like or comment below.