What a whirlwind!! One of my favorite places with two of my favorite people. A couple weeks ago I flew out to DC and met my parents where we all stayed on vacation for a week. It was an amazing time as always, only this time it was extra special because I got to share it with my parents. It was almost more fun watching them see the sights for the first time. It was great to be able to show them the little parts that I knew and to be able to explore new things together. We saw all the monuments and memorials, and even did a couple things I hadn't done, like Ford's Theater and the Museum of Crime and Punishment (both amazing). The only thing I'd like to do next time is the Spy museum... and maybe the National Cathedral. Apart from just getting to spend so much time together, one of the highlights for me (and I think for my parents as well) was the day that we rented a car and drove to Gettysburg. It's about a two hours drive from DC and absolutely worth it. Unlike last time when I was there though, this time we had a plan. We scheduled a private tour through the National Gettysburg Military Museum with a national park service certified battlefield tour guide. Best. Idea. I've. Ever. Had. Fred was amazing. And it was great to just hand him the keys to our rental car and have him drive us all around on our own private tour. He customized it to our interests and everything. Other favorites as always are Arlington National Cemetery and the changing of the guard (another must see for anyone going) and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Kind of a morbid --no, solemn-- grouping of favorite places. I think it's somewhere everyone needs to see. Something everyone needs to experience. Apart from a couple small mishaps (maybe I booked a different hotel than the one I thought it was, and maybe I took us to the wrong airport... both ended up being ok, don't worry about it ;) the trip couldn't have been more perfect! Not even the blisters that I got on the first day lessened the greatness of the trip. Not even when they became infected and I had to go into work to have them debrided and drained and started on triple coverage antibiotics. The trip was just that amazing. I'd do the blisters again any day. In a heartbeat.
"We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men. We...solemnly publish and declare, that these colonies are and of right ought to be free and independent states...And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
