Friday morning, I discovered where my children got their complete inability to hurry.
And it wasn't from me.
Let's just say that we did not have time for the leisurely FREE breakfast for which I had been hoping. Rather, we grabbed muffins and ran for the shuttle which took us to the Metro Bus which took us to the Metro train which took us into downtown Washington DC. Whew! All for the price of about $5 each.
It was raining lightly as we emerged from the train station. We were due in an hour at the Hyatt to pick up petitions against the health care bill so that we could deliver them to our Oregon senators. Unfortunately, I didn't know that there exist several Hyatt Hotels in the downtown area, so several wrong turns and miles later, drenched to the skin, we arrived at the correct hotel. A half-hour late. Wheeling one sopping wet backpack and carrying the other.
The rain was no longer light.
Grassfire was glad to see us, because, of course, we were the only ones from Oregon to show up. A man handed us two nice white boxes containing the petitions and instructions for the delivery. We took stock of our situation (not good) and decided that walking back down to the Capitol was not a righteous plan, so we shared a taxi with another couple.
By the time we got to the senate offices, the pretty white boxes looked a little bedraggled, like us, but we delivered them anyway. We got a pretty cool reception from our Democrat Senators' staffs, which we expected, but it was an interesting experience anyway.
Then Jeff said, "Why don't we go visit Joe Wilson's office?"
If any gentle readers are not familiar with WHY he would say that, just Google the name. You will see and understand.So we did.
And we received a very warm welcome, which was balm to our souls after, let's face it, a rather difficult morning. One of the aides offered to let us take a photo behind the good Congressman's desk. Edwin's Mom, Deon, said "He should decorate his walls with photos or something."
Funny.
The day turned for the better after this nice encounter.
The rain stopped falling.
We felt more special and appreciated.
So we decided to take our soggy selves and see if the Marriott would let us check in early. We walked. A long way. And on the way we passed this building.
The Ronald Reagan Republican Center.
Yeah, I know, the Reagan bust is not very pretty, but it was the principle of the thing. So much liberalism in one town. It was refreshing to find an oasis of conservatism.
Then this building, which covered a whole block.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Now wouldn't ya think, with all that space and manpower, that the SEC could have figured Bernie Madoff out before he ruined all those nice millionaires?
We also passed the building of Government Accountability, Integrity, and Reliability. Seriously. It's true! Now that was a puzzle. What do they do? We could only figure that when new politicians arrive in DC, they have to check their accountability etc. into the building before they can go to the capitol. Hmmmm.
Walking, walking, walking, we passed a school that had trunks of trees grown into its chain link fence. Which trees had then been cut down, leaving only the stray bits hanging on the fence. Interesting concept of playground decor.
We eventually arrived at the Marriott just after noon, having spent an entertaining hour chortling at the vagaries and curiosities of our government, as displayed by its curious office buildings.
And yes, the concierge let us check in early.
Hallelujah!
So I strung all of our wet belongings around the room to dry while Jeff took a shower. I, having sensibly worn lightweight Chico's Zenergy clothing, (especially formulated for being worn whilst traveling) was already dry.
Are we bored yet?
More to come on Day 1.
Later.
P.S. Did you notice the sticks I'm holding in the Reagan photo? Remember those sticks. I will probably tell their story at some point.
Then we decided to brave the Metro bus system to get back to the other Marriott, where we were due to attend a couple of Resistnet events.
We forgot that we were in the NE section of town and the other Marriott was in the NW section. So the bus actually took us further away from our destination. I don't think residents of DC walk very much, because every time we would ask directions or how long it would take us to walk, people would say "Oh, that will take you an hour, it's a LONG way." Then we would walk it anyway.
Miles later, we were at the Marriott for activism training.
I kid you not.
Activism.
Here is (maybe) the new motto for all us resistance types.
Clever, is it not?
Later, at the Meet and Greet, we met lots of people who had come for the march. Some on a last-minute whim. Some on their own, knowing no one else. Lots of people from Texas. A very few from Oregon, who were making posters behind the curtains. Here is one of mine.
We stuck with our new Oregon friends
for the pro-troops rally outside the Walter Reid Memorial Hospital. We shared a taxi, six of us squished into the car with a crazy Middle-Eastern-type cab driver.
There have been anti-war demonstrators outside the hospital every Friday night for the last 300 weeks. Sometimes they are crass and unkind to veterans who pass them, so this was our chance to undo some of that.
It was great. There must have been three or four hundred people lining the four corners of the entrance, with banners and posters, and cars honking to show their support constantly. It was, of course, drizzling.
After hanging out at Union Station for a while, we caught the train back to the hotel, where we found a message that Annie and Edwin were on their way to march with us.
I have a little video of honking cars, but it's not uploading for me, so check back later. Maybe Bethany can show me how.
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