I was walking down the street, eager to explore Washington D.C. with Mr. J, when I heard, "Sheppo! Sheppo! You can't go in there!" I did not immediately think of Sheppo and Peti, I must confess. I know a Mr. Sheppo who works for NIJ - or is it DOJ?
In any event, I was here, on the back side of the White House when I heard the stage whisper to Sheppo.
It wasn't until we reached what, in my mind, is the 'front' of the White House that I realized I was in the presence of the elusive Sheppo and Peti. They were playing the fountain!! They ducked down behind the bushes just before I snapped the picture.
See that rectangular yellow box on the left? That box houses the White House bees.
On the left of the White House bees is the White House garden. In this picture, Sheppo and Peti are hiding in the bushes between the garden and the bee house. Peti, clearly intoxicated with the joy that is eluding White House security, actually plucked a carrot from the garden and ate it! I was appalled. I demanded they get out of the White House garden and come along with Mr. J and I for an educational tour of the area. Peti responded, "You're not my mom!" which is true, of course. . . I wasn't about to scale the fence to get them. Eventually, Mr. J and I shrugged our shoulders and moved on.
Here's our first view of the capitol.
Our only 'time sensitive destination.' The Supreme Court of the United States of America. If you look at the guys on the right side of the photo in the yellow jackets, you can see their reflection in the marble. That's because it was raining on Friday in D.C. We got there around 1:15 in the afternoon. We caught the 1:30 lecture, which was given in the actual courtroom where arguments are heard. It was amazing. Mr. J and I both had the at-that-time unspoken thought as we walked up the stairs, "How would it feel to walk up these stairs, knowing you were about to argue a case before the Supremes?" Turns out, if you are arguing a case, you go through the side door. There's a sign that tells you to go ahead and budge to the front of the line - okay, the sign doesn't say, 'budge.' But that's what it means. . .
If you look closely, you can see Sheppo in this picture. He is standing at the top of the steps in the green jacket. Peti is hiding behind the column.
Here's a 'side view' of the capitol, including these really cool fountains.
This statue is outside the National Archives. There are some pretty important documents in this building.
Under the statue are these words, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." I love this quote.
Here is the World War II memorial. Behind it is the Lincoln Memorial. I couldn't wait to get here. I love walking this loop.
Another shot of the WWII memorial.
These are the trees lining the left side of the reflecting pool. As we were walking up the path, I was reminded of another time I walked this path. It was about 4 years ago, when I was here for a DNA conference. My friend Buzz and I got up early - I mean 4:30 in the morning early, to walk the monuments. We walked up this side, talking about our daughters, pausing to be quiet when passing the homeless sleeping on benches. It was one of the best walks of my life.
You can see the reflecting pool here on the right.
Here is the Korean War Memorial. The first time I saw it, I was with Buzz. It was dark, still, of course. It's lit up at night and is absolutely breathtaking.
Another pic from a different angle. When Buzz and I first saw it, I don't think this ground cover was there. If memory serves, we were able to walk amongst the statues.
Here, the Lincoln memorial.
Sheppo and Peti told me there was a carving in the back of Lincoln's head - of Robert E. Lee. They even took me back there to see. They were wrong, of course. Although Peti continues to insist Lincoln's hair wisps bear a striking resemblance to Lee's profile.
I took this close up because I could have sworn I saw Sheppo and Peti frolicking in the fountain. But by the time I snapped the pic, they had ducked under the water. They are on the left of the middle fountain - I swear!
This statue is outside the National Archives. There are some pretty important documents in this building.
Under the statue are these words, "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." I love this quote.
Here is the World War II memorial. Behind it is the Lincoln Memorial. I couldn't wait to get here. I love walking this loop.
Another shot of the WWII memorial.
These are the trees lining the left side of the reflecting pool. As we were walking up the path, I was reminded of another time I walked this path. It was about 4 years ago, when I was here for a DNA conference. My friend Buzz and I got up early - I mean 4:30 in the morning early, to walk the monuments. We walked up this side, talking about our daughters, pausing to be quiet when passing the homeless sleeping on benches. It was one of the best walks of my life.
You can see the reflecting pool here on the right.
Here is the Korean War Memorial. The first time I saw it, I was with Buzz. It was dark, still, of course. It's lit up at night and is absolutely breathtaking.
Another pic from a different angle. When Buzz and I first saw it, I don't think this ground cover was there. If memory serves, we were able to walk amongst the statues.
Here, the Lincoln memorial.
Sheppo and Peti told me there was a carving in the back of Lincoln's head - of Robert E. Lee. They even took me back there to see. They were wrong, of course. Although Peti continues to insist Lincoln's hair wisps bear a striking resemblance to Lee's profile.
Given how wrong they were about the back of Lincoln's head, I was dubious when they told me there was a statue of Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska. The park ranger, however, assures me they are quite correct. Sheppo said, "Duh. We grew up there! Dummy!" I told him there was no call for that tone. He just rolled his eyes.
Here is a pic from the top of the stairs of the Lincoln Monument. You can see the Washington Monument reflected nicely in the Reflecting Pool. Nice symmetry, huh?
Another pic of the Washington Monument. Behind that, for those of you who haven't been, is the capitol. To the left of the Washington Monument is the White House. To the right, the Jefferson Memorial, which Mr. J and I went to last night. Pics up tomorrow, I promise.
I was standing right here when I remembered. Meggie? Jo? This sign wasn't here back in the winter of '82. I was 15 years old, touring the monuments with the whole family. In the law, we call this 'an attractive nuisance.' Naturally, I, along with some (if not all) of my siblings took the opportunity to slide down this marble ramp type section of the monument. And was promptly reprimanded. As I turned to tell Sheppo and Peti this story, they darted by me and slid down the marble themselves. Peti claims he can't read. Sheppo claimed he didn't see the sign. Both of them are choosing not to acknowledge the 'No Trespass' order given to them by the park ranger.
I took this pic to show the capitol behind the Washington Monument. See it just to the left?
The Vietnam Memorial always brings a lump in my throat. I remember visiting with my family in the '80's. It wasn't quite done, then. We were on a bus tour. It was our family, one other family with a mom, a dad, and one kid, and 37 members of the Geritol set. The dad refused to get off the bus. I had no idea what was going on, then. Note the rose, and the bottle of Crown Royal. By my guess, there are 2 good 'bumps' as my grandma Hazel would say, in that bottle.
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Here is a pic from the top of the stairs of the Lincoln Monument. You can see the Washington Monument reflected nicely in the Reflecting Pool. Nice symmetry, huh?
Another pic of the Washington Monument. Behind that, for those of you who haven't been, is the capitol. To the left of the Washington Monument is the White House. To the right, the Jefferson Memorial, which Mr. J and I went to last night. Pics up tomorrow, I promise.
I was standing right here when I remembered. Meggie? Jo? This sign wasn't here back in the winter of '82. I was 15 years old, touring the monuments with the whole family. In the law, we call this 'an attractive nuisance.' Naturally, I, along with some (if not all) of my siblings took the opportunity to slide down this marble ramp type section of the monument. And was promptly reprimanded. As I turned to tell Sheppo and Peti this story, they darted by me and slid down the marble themselves. Peti claims he can't read. Sheppo claimed he didn't see the sign. Both of them are choosing not to acknowledge the 'No Trespass' order given to them by the park ranger.
I took this pic to show the capitol behind the Washington Monument. See it just to the left?
The Vietnam Memorial always brings a lump in my throat. I remember visiting with my family in the '80's. It wasn't quite done, then. We were on a bus tour. It was our family, one other family with a mom, a dad, and one kid, and 37 members of the Geritol set. The dad refused to get off the bus. I had no idea what was going on, then. Note the rose, and the bottle of Crown Royal. By my guess, there are 2 good 'bumps' as my grandma Hazel would say, in that bottle.
Words to live by. . .
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1 comment:
I believe I do remember "not" sliding down the banisters. Rules just look different when you are a kid. They are conditional aren't they? We rode on a bus for over a thousand miles to get there. Isn't there a break for people who are from out of town?
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