My Last Vacation with Mom: Washington DC
June 20, 2013
Our last stop on this east coast trip was Washington D.C. Like New York, I had been here before, during an 8th grade graduation trip. I really love Washington D.C. It’s a beautiful city. I was never interested in all the politics, but rather the sites, monuements, memorials, museums, and all the history that this city has. We bought a Big Bus Tour ticket, which allowed us to to ride around on guided double decker tour buses throughtout the city, and we could get off and on whenever we wanted to. It was well worth the price for a place that has so many sites to see.
The first night, we had dinner in Bethesda at a restaurant that served bison. I think the restaurant has since closed.
I think the story about this is that we were walking around the area after dinner, checking out the stores, and we came across a guy that my aunt thought was giving out free samples for a new restaurant that was opening. Turns out it was a waiter serving hors d’oeuvres for a private party. My mom and aunt were pretty embarrased about it, but they had a good laugh.
President Obama showed his support for conserving energy by making sure the Whte House lights were shut off after midnight.
Seeing this man standing there quietly saluting and talking to the name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial made me wonder about his story. Was he in the war? Was this a friend or relative of his? How often did he come here to salute and pay his respects? It was a quick but beautiful moment. My cousin’s dad knew someone that had died during the war, so Troy tried to find his name to get a rubbing. It was a very somber feeling walking around, seeing all the names, and everyone who visited made sure they respected the history and the people around them.
One of my uncles fought in the Korean War, so my cousins Major and Doah made it a point to visit the memorial for that war. Unfortunately, my uncle passed away earlier in the year.
The Arlington National Cemetery, our Nation’s most hallowed ground, houses the final resting place of many war veterans and some of the most famous or notable figures in American history. The cemetery is huge, and it was particularly hot this day.
On a previous trip, Troy came across the stairs from the movie, The Exorcist by luck. He was getting gas when he noticed the stairs looked familiar. Sure enough, it was the location where they filmed the movie, and the house is at the top of the stairs. Before we left, he wanted to take a family picture there, without telling the aunts the significance of the steps. He didn’t want to scare them.
…And that was our trip. Unfortunately, my mom suddenly passed away the following December while at home. Looking back, I wish I had spent more time with her on this vacation, because the cousins and the aunts split up most of the time. I understand that there was no way anyone could have known or planned that she would pass away, so I’m really glad we took this trip together. I’m glad she had fun hanging out with her sisters too, so there’s nothing to be sad about.
This is dedicated to you, mom. I love you.
Shot with a Nikon D4, and FM2 with Portra 160 film
