Day 20 - Washington D.C.

We made it to the Nation's Capital today.  We were struck by how the Washington Monument anchors the entire area.  In fact, the White House, The Capitol, the Jefferson Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial all look onto the monument.  Is it for inspiration?  For guidance?  To remind our current leaders of the founding principles?  Coincidence, that, when you put it all together, it forms a cross?  Not sure, but it was a long conversation we had.  --and it was really neat that our travels over the past week have allowed them to come up with these kind of questions.  

Somewhat serendipitously, we have been on the trail of Thomas Jefferson for the past week or so.  The Jefferson Memorial was a wonderful summation of that.  As we walked through the memorial we saw inscriptions of his writings - and they were tremendously relevant to our journey.  When we listened to the Park Ranger talk, he discussed Jefferson's time at Monticello (we looked at each other and winked).  He talked about Jefferson's belief in education and influence in the design of UVA (we looked at each other and smirked).  He talked about Jefferson's time as Governor of Virginia in Williamsburg (we looked at each other and smiled).  We all feel a certain closeness to him.

Jefferson was a huge man in our history.  Though, he was certainly not without flaws (we discussed these as well and how they fit together with recent U.S. political history and mankind in general).  But, his fingerprints are all over our Country.  And we are far better for it.

From the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument, the kids walked down beside the reflecting pool to the Lincoln Memorial.  (Given the record temperatures in D.C. I was proud of them for not jumping in.)  While the scene at the Jefferson Memorial is somewhat serene and reflective, the Lincoln Memorial is a social hub.  The kids walked up the many steps past the multitudes of people to see another man larger than life staring out at the Washington Monument.  I think it will kickoff another chapter in American history that we will try to interpret over the weeks (or trips) ahead.

D.C. deserved much more time than we had available for it.  We don't think a week would make much of a dent in it.  We shall return!  Back in the truckster and up the Parkway to Baltimore to have dinner with Janell's Granparents and Uncle.  They are always so welcoming and cheerful.  We had a nice night reflecting on our journey thus far and discussing the history of their family.  Do I hear chants for Colombiapalooza 2011?