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After the Monument Walking tour, I decided that having recently been sick with a terrible cough and lame from a heal spur, I would be lazy and not participate in Wednesday’s activities. I was then able to completely fulfill the Army designation of sick, lame, and lazy. My sister, her family, and Gabe (for good measure) went to see the Spy Museum and the Museum of Natural History. I sat at home in my chair with my feet up reading the Saturday through Wednesday Washington Post. When they returned, Gabe declared the Spy Museum “Cool!” He purchased sunglasses with mirrors on the inside edges so that he can see if someone is following him. In the Natural History Museum, Marie liked the rocks, minerals, and jewels and Sam enjoyed the Mammal Room. Tired from all their touring, they decided to spend Thursday at my house and at the neighborhood pool. Instead of showing them sympathy and allowing them a restful day, I had my brother in law clean the gutter I can’t reach, weed eat the yard, change the oil in the lawn mower, and determine the pond pump problem. My brother in law is very handy. He tells my sister that she gets the double bonus of him being both handy and handsome. (Sometimes I think he gets too much sun on his bald head.)

(I personally don’t want to use paragraph breaks, but tech support has gotten a bit big for his britches now that he has less than 40 days left in Iraq.)

On the 4th of July, we headed back into DC for the final hurrah. We wanted to literally “Go out with a bang!” I had booked two rooms for the night and I was a bit worried that I had made the wrong choice. We pulled up to the hotel at 1000, and they graciously allowed us in one of the rooms. The hotel was lovely, my sister was happy, and I breathed a big sigh of relief. My nephew decided to take a page from his Aunt’s book of tricks and stayed in the room to rest because he was feeling ill. The rest of us marched down to the parade. We found a good spot and sat down on our blankets and chairs. We ate our picnic lunch and it was enjoyable at first. We had brought umbrellas in case of rain, but used them instead to block the sun. It was really hot, we were all covered in sweat and a woman stood right behind me leaning on my chair. She even complained about my attempts to ward her off with my umbrella. We all got a kick out of the guys in black outfits with large bells sewn on their legs. They danced and pranced down the street. They were sweating something fierce in 90 degree heat. After 3 hours in the hot sun, no end of the parade in sight, and a suspicion that the woman behind me was going to push me over in my chair, we decided we had seen enough. We returned to the hotel to find my nephew recovered and Raddapendence Day on Cartoon Network. Chowder is my kids new favorite show and I am often forced to listen to endless reenactments of it. Even Zeke walks around saying lines. So, I finally watched it with them. I was so happy to be in the air conditioning with a coke in my hand that I may have actually chuckled a few times. I think the heat had gotten to me.

That night we ate at a really good pizza place and I was thankful to have my brother in law with me so that I could order something besides cheese and meat. We had walked over to the restaurant in a bit of a drizzle (spitting), but thankfully the rain waited to pour down until after we were inside. We got a bit wet walking to the Mall for the fireworks. My umbrellas are not of the highest quality, as we purchased them last 4th of July from the umbrella guy on the street. When we arrived at my favorite spot looking at Lincoln, the rain stopped for awhile. My sister was not a loyal fan of the lighted Lincoln Memorial and would have chosen a different vantage point, but I like to be so close to the fireworks that you smell the smoke, hurt your ears, and feel yourself shake from the explosions. Not as close as my Pastor, however, who got burned this year from a firework that hit him in the chest and started his clothing on fire. That would be a little too close for me. (Yes, Mom. Dennis is O.K. He taught Sunday School this morning. Although I think he was a little taken aback when the worship team sang, “Lord, Light the Fire Again.”) Last year, Zeke refused to hear or see the fireworks. I had to plug his ears and he kept his eyes clamped shut. This year, at least he looked at them, but any time I would attempt to remove my hand from his ears to adjust the umbrella, he would scream and cry. So, we got a little wet. The kids declared the fireworks, “Awesome!” We then walked back to the hotel. I was thankful that I didn’t have to drive my way out of the city.

The next morning, we took our last tour in DC. We walked through the White House and I finally saw the Green Room, the Blue Room, and the Red Room. Now when I hear on the news that the briefing will be in the Green Room, I can say I’ve been there. The portraits and art, furniture and paneling, fireplace and chandeliers deserved an endless speech from our Library of Congress tour guide. Lucky for me, it was a self guided tour. There was a library about which a sign declared its many purposes, none of which was “reading books.” I am not sure why, in DC, libraries are not about books. It is very odd. Marie saw a great view of the Washington Monument. I admired some nice paneling. I hate the paneling in my basement, but the paneling in the White House is fabulous. There is a grand piano in there that would have provided a nice accompaniment to our walking tour. Marie was trying to view the rooms at a moderate pace. I was trying to keep all the kids in my sights. Zeke told me, “I need to carry Uncle Richard.” After our tour was completed, and we departed the visitor center. Police pulled up around us and told us to stay where we were. We watched the motorcade enter the White House. I saw only the Secret Service Guys. They are very large men and they carry really big guns. I stood real still and smiled politely. One guy waved at Marie, but she was too stunned to get the picture. The Wiitas are now safely home in Minnesota. I’ve washed the sheets and towels and need only to purchase some new umbrellas in preparation of my next DC sightseeing adventure.