DC Birthday - Michael's Wedding July 2014

Dear Sarah,

Wednesday, travel to DC kept us moving. We left at 7:30 AM for the drive to Pittsburgh airport where persistent aisle cruising got us an extended parking slot in area 15c. We were wondering which way to head when a shuttle stopped for us–the easy method for locating the terminal. After the glitch of having to remove my non-metal wrist band to get through security, we caught a train to the gates. Our only wait was for boarding. Once on the Southwest jet, the flight was so short we got our drinks just as the pilot said we were descending into BWI. We gulped. Stewardesses hustled. Spence and I walked out of BWI and onto the shuttle to the train station. We stepped off the shuttle, bought a ticket, crossed the bridge to the platform, and walked onto the Marc. At Union Station, we caught a red train then a yellow to L'Enfant Plaza. The five block walk to Holiday Inn Capitol was steamy in 95° DC weather. Spence registered, and we rode the elevator to the eight floor. At 2:45 PM, we dropped our gear and finally stopped moving.

Love,

Janet

Dear Aunt Audrey,

Spence had a conference in DC on my birthday. He left a day early so I could travel with him. After a seven hour trip, two glasses of ice water with orange slices in the air conditioned hotel lobby weren't enough to cool me from DC's 95° heat. I changed into my bathing suit and convinced Spence to climb to the roof so I could swim while he joined a meeting in Columbus via his cell phone. He sat in the shade at the end of the small pool. I swam laps and rested near him in the breeze at the shallow end. A teenage girl doing the butterfly stroke splashed Spence's tablet screen so he moved to the side of the pool where canna lilies grew in a huge planter. Behind the opposite wall, the top of a huge construction crane turned like a robot. The capitol dome was visible over the far end. A toddler from China paddled in her life vest and petaled bathing cap while she practiced English by repeating, “My father is at school. My mother is at the pool.” After an hour and a half, I was sated and left for a shower. Spence's meeting went on for another hour.

Love,

Janet

Dear Bette,

Wednesday evening, Spence and I hunted for restaurants. A Holiday Inn Capitol list and Internet suggestions required getting on the Metro if we didn't eat at one of the hotel restaurants. We wandered through the neighborhood hoping to find something anyway. We didn't so walked back to the hotel and collapsed in metal chairs on the bar and grill patio. When our waitress understood my food restrictions, she leaned down beside me to discuss menu items. The kitchen for the other restaurant marinated their meat so she wasn't sure if that would work. Sandwiches came from her grill. “I can look in their eyes and tell them no dairy.” I ordered a fresh salmon sandwich and salad. Wind turned the table's large red umbrella inside out and blew white petals onto our plates. Trains rumbled past. Women in tight skirts and stiletto heels danced to the band playing inside the bar. The music was so loud that it sounded just right with the doors closed. The next morning, I climbed the canopy walk at the Botanic Garden for this picture of Salmon Bougainvillea.

Love,

Janet

Dear Joyce,

While Spence was at a conference, I visited the US Botanic Garden in Washington DC. Wandering through rooms, I gawked at plants and listened to background sounds–classical music, trickling water, cricket chirps, and children's squeals. Cacti grew large in the dessert room. A youngster asked, “Are these real?” I assured him they were. In the orchid room another youngster said, “What if a snake comes out into your face?” He'd read the sign beside a rattlesnake plant. I even climbed to the canopy in the jungle garden. The temperature got hotter with each step. Outside, I toured the rose garden first. Only one flower hadn't wilted. Around the bend, water lilies bloomed in a pond. When I headed back to the hotel, a motorcade drove past: five police cars with flashing lights and blaring sirens were followed by three vans and a black sedan which were followed by two flashing, blaring police vehicles. I asked a police officer if that was President Obama. He said, “No. The President's motorcade is twice as long. That was an ambassador.”

Love,

Janet

Dear Janet,

I spent my birthday afternoon in the Smithsonian Museum of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery. I had wanted to see quilts so asked at the information desk for their location. The quilts were all in storage. “ But there are other things that might interest you.” I found plenty including the Preamble to the Constitution written on license plates and a Steinway piano painted with America receiving the nine muses. I enjoyed Presidential portraits the most. They conveyed personalities. In a gray suit, striped tie, and serious expression, Jimmy Carter stood by his desk. Smiling George W. Bush sat with legs open, elbows resting on knee and sofa, and shirt collar unbuttoned. Head and shoulders of Bill Clinton were superimposed with crossing diagonal lines filled with circles and ellipses to make him look bubbly and his nose appear rounder. I rested my throbbing feet by watching clips from famous speeches like Reagan telling Mondale he wouldn't hold his youth and inexperience against him.

Love,

Janet

Dear Darlene,

Using cell phones to navigate, Spence and I met at the corner of G and 7th in DC for my birthday dinner. We checked Fado's Irish Pub and RFD Washington (too loud) before selecting Clyde's of Gallery Place, in memory of your Clyde. It's a two story, all American food restaurant with bars, booths, tables, and softer loud music. Looking out the window by our table, I could see the Chinatown sign. The waiter took care to get my trout without cheese and zucchini without mashed potatoes. Spence was easier. No special instructions for a cheeseburger with bacon, a salad, and black and tan mixed, by the bar tender, from local brewery beers. We had animated chat about his conference, my museum adventures, and our separate Metro rides. I had a choice of lemon or raspberry sorbet for dessert. The waiter saw me debating so said he'd bring both. After being off desserts for a couple of months in the hopes of flattening my tummy (didn't work), the sorbet tasted great. I moaned with pleasure, and Spence opened his tablet to note I liked sorbet.

Love,

Janet

Dear Uncle Jim and Julie,

Traveling from DC to Anita's was an adventure. In morning rush hour, Spence bought a third Metro pass; the hotel key had demagnetized the others. In Union Station, we boarded Amtrak and found a nearly empty car with wide leather seats. Business class? A man said, “No. Every once in a while they put on one of these cars.” I tried not to get dizzy with the doorway of our car and the doorway of the car ahead swinging in different directions. In Philly, the Avis clerk directed us around the corner, down the hall, and down the escalator to pick up a Ford Focus. The escalator went up so we went down the stairs. That took us outside. We circled the building, re- entered, and finally got to the parking lot by going UP an escalator before going down. I read Google directions; Spence drove. At step 16 of 21, we couldn't find “Easton Trenton Turnpike.” A country store customer said, “There's no such road.” He sent over Route 31. We found Clinton, NJ, spotted the Hampton Inn sign above the trees, and called Anita. She gave us better directions to her house.

Love,

Janet

Dear Marilyn

,Like Aunt Jane's funeral, my nephew's wedding was a time for catching up with family, with my sister and nephews, that is. The evening before the wedding, Spence and I relaxed with Anita and her dogs. She takes in Tibetan Terriers for the rescue league. She had three when we visited. Smidge carried toys in her mouth and waved her tail in circles. Lexi (at Anita's feet in the photo) cuddled with Spence but stayed within three yards of her mommy. LuLu preferred to stay in her cage downstairs. The first two followed us around as Anita showed her recent remodeling–attractive tile in the bathrooms and beautiful marble counters in the kitchen. Smidge barked a couple times, but the girls were mostly calm and quiet. We had comfortable chat about Anita's travels through Turkey, Greece, and the states; her doll collection; and how the bride and groom met during college tours for high school counselors. Anita made the best meal of our trip–chicken baked with mushrooms, spinach, and cheese (or not), Greek salad, plus strawberries and blueberries for dessert.

Love,

Janet

Dear Barb,

Spence and I stayed at Hampton Inn in Clinton, New Jersey for my nephew's wedding. The morning of the ceremony, water didn't drain out of the tub after my shower, and a girl vomited into a wastebasket by Spence in the breakfast area. We left and ate at The Fine Diner. Our waitress brought out all the bread bags so I could read ingredients. None worked, but the warp she tried next did. She said the cook would put whatever I could eat inside–scrambled egg whites, tomatoes, and mushrooms. Easier for her was Spence's scrambled eggs and pork roll, a NJ meat, evidently, that looks like Canadian bacon. Afterwards, we shopped at Walmart, a rare event for us, to buy food for the rest of the trip. (The next day's departure would be too early for a sit down breakfast, and I'd be eating lunches on the move.) We packed my lunch, put on our wedding finery (though my shoes were already on in case my feet swelled before I got into them), and picked up my sister for the drive to Staten Island. Her dogs Smidge (in the photo), Lexi, and LuLu had to stay home.

Love,

Janet

Dear Nancy,

Spence drove Anita and me from her house in Hampton, New Jersey to the Baptist Church on Staten Island for her son Michael's wedding. Anita turned her Garmin on for directions. Anita would give a direction, I'd repeat it in case Spence hadn't heard, and the Garmin would say everything twice. “Enough!” Spence protested. “Too many women are telling me where to go.” We let the Garmin get him through the rest of the trip. As we zoomed along the interstates, I used a hotel towel for a bib to eat almond butter on pretzel sticks, apple sauce, strawberries, and blueberries. The others skipped lunch. As instructed, we arrived early so Anita could help supervise arrangements. The florists were carrying flowers into the sanctuary. Todd (on the left in the photo) and Michael (on the right) were talking with the minister and his wife. Since we had time, Spence (not in the photo), Anita (in blue), and I (in the long dress) took photos. Then Spence played bricks on his phone. I talked with guests and soaked in everyone's celebratory vibes.

Love,

Janet

Dear Lori and Ellie,

Spence and I sat in the front pew to be with Anita at her son Michael's wedding. (He would be your third cousin, Ellie.) White flowers and ribbons decorated pews. An arch of flowers stood in the chancel. The first time I teared up was when Anita walked down the aisle to the tune of “Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring.” The ring bearer and flower girl made it down the aisle with the help of the flower girl's mom. Lisset, the bride, glowed; Michael was a good sport putting up with all the camera flashes. When the soloist sang, “I Swear,” Lisset cried. Her maid of honor passed along a handkerchief. The minister gave a short, sensible homily which included, “Ignore the photographers,” and “Love is patient.” Spence snickered at the last part. I nudged him with my elbow. I only knew three people in the reception line but talked to everyone anyway. Outside the church, rain held off long enough for the wedding party to pose for pictures and for people to blow bubbles for good luck. The couple drove off in a classic white Bentley.

Love,

Janet

Dear Reid and Claire,

While photographers took even more photos for my nephew Michael's wedding, we waited for the reception to start. Spence became an expert in playing bricks on his telephone. I tried in vain to send wedding photos to Mom Dot from my cell using Lee's (Anita's ex) hot spot. Anita had assembled all 83 favors for the place settings–folding the boxes, adding the candle and shells, and tying the box and coaster together with ribbon. The table was elegant. Music wasn't. It was so loud I had to dance in my chair and shout to talk with people at the table. Spence and I found food we could eat at the hors d'oeuvre table, especially the delicious marinated vegetables. Nita had to wait to be introduced so didn't get the veggies but had some of the salad and pasta that Spence and I couldn't eat. We waited for the main course. By 8:30 (dinner was scheduled for 7:30), the food still hadn't arrived. We left to rescue Anita's three Tibetan terriers from their cages. They raced from one disrobing wedding attendee to another with toy frog in mouth to welcome us back.

Love,

Janet

Dear Laura,

Sunday, at 7:00 AM, Spence and I left Clinton, New Jersey for our trip back to Wells Wood. My sister had printed directions she'd used for driving to Philadelphia. Impeccable. We arrived at 30th and Market easily but had to drive to 44th for a gas station to fill the tank. The rental clerk charged us for a tank of gas anyway because the pump didn't spit out a receipt. We rode in the quiet Amtrak car to BWI. Spence worked on his computer. I sipped licorice tea. After catching the shuttle to the airport and getting stopped in security for having a bottle of water in my bag (oops), we waited to board our Southwest jet. A pilot, traveling to another job, sat beside Spence. The flight landed as a thunderstorm hit. No workers were allowed outside in the lightning. We sat for an hour. I was glad you weren't waiting to give us a ride. The pilot got several where-are-you calls. Waiting jets released passengers simultaneously. Hallways and shuttles were crammed. Following the moving walkways, we found 15c, and Spence drove north. At 7:30 PM, the cats welcomed us home.

Love,

Janet

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