Washington DC

March 30

The five of us headed for the metro again to picked up our tee shirts for the National Walk for Epilepsy we were doing the next day. There are seven of us on Team Allison, Allison with her purple shirt and the rest of us with our white shirts. It was a big moment!

After lunch at Cozi’s we went to the International Spy Museum and then to the Crime and Punishment Museum. Allison and Ann are big fans of CSI and they had a CSI exhibit: interesting and fun. We pretty much skipped the exhibit on the early days of torture as the punishment element. We did kind of quick visits but enjoyed both. There is so much to see! I spent half a day in the Spy Museum alone when I was here last time. There is only so much time in a day! Natalie and her friend Al met us back at the hotel, and we walked to a yummy Italian restaurant for dinner. Al in on Team Allison and will walk with us tomorrow.

Waiting for the metro!

Picking up our shirts for the walk - big moment!

Allison and Ann with J Edgar Hoover at the Crime and Punishment Museum

Allie looks way to happy!

March 31

We were up early so we could be at the hotel by 8:00 to meet up with Allie, Ann, Natalie and Al for our metro ride to the National Mall for the Epilepsy Walk. Thousands of people were milling around, tents were set up with displays and a band was even playing. It was very festive and impressive to see all these people out in support of friends and family members with epilepsy and raising money for much needed research. Some of the teams had made matching shirts or hats, some carried banners and all were having a good time as we walked almost four miles around the mall past the Smithsonian Museums down to the Capitol and then around the Washington Memorial at the other end to the finish line. We made it! We will have to do more of these walks back at home in Olympia and Tacoma. Allison raised over $1,200 with donations!

We are at the Starting Line of the National Walk for Epilepsy.
 Here we go Team Allison!

We are on our way!

What a pose!

Allie and Her Cousin Natalie
Walking right by the Capitol!

The Finish Line!

Natalie suggested getting out of town with a drive down to Alexandria for lunch and then a visit to Mount Vernon. It was a great idea but Mount Vernon was inundated with at least a 1,000 8^th graders plus families on Spring Break. Little did we know that it was one of the busiest days of the year. Our 3:50 tour of the home was delayed and delayed as they ran farther and farther behind. Needless to day we had plenty of time to see the out buildings and the Washington family tomb. Ann and Allison still had to gear up for their early morning flight home and opted to go back with Al and Natalie without taking the tour of Washington’s home. We hugged and said our goodbyes. It was so wonderful to have these four days together. It will be a couple of months before we see each other again. Norm headed to the car for a nap. Chris and I wandered around the grounds and finally got the go ahead for the tour. Norm made it back just in time. The tour was nothing like I had had on my other two visits but at least Chris and Norm got to see the home. This one was more like: This is the dining room, now move along to the entry… They were doing their best with the hordes of people. It is amazing to see the home as it was back in the late 1700’s along with so many of their belongings. They have a new museum and well done film on Washington on the grounds. All the Mt Vernon buildings but one are original! The setting is beautiful with a long sloping lawn down to the river. Thanks to the government setting aside the land across the river from Mt. Vernon, the lovely view from the front porch looking across the river is the same wilderness that George and Martha looked at over 200 years ago.

We are so glad we were in this corner of the world to be able to see Ann and Allison, participate in “the walk,” take in some of DC with them, and visit with Natalie and Al. What a treat. We missed you Dave…

Mt Vernon with the 8th graders.