I Spy Kai

"Friends are like ice-cream, there is always room for more" 

Skinny Cow Icecream

It's always a welcome sight to see Chris and Kai, but to see them arrive in a bright blue Mustang convertible really makes my heart sing.  Fresh in from Williamsburg the boys had a date to keep at the White House. 

"Give me a museum and I'll fill it."

Pablo Picasso

Meantime, we wandered through the Museum of Art on our way over to Chinatown for lunch.

"With true friends...even water drunk together is sweet enough."  Chinese Proverb

With a chinese lunch special under my belt it was starting to feel like old times again.  Of course no visit to the East Coast would be complete without a trip to Rita's

"Ice Custard Happiness"
Rita's slogan.

With everyone iced up and happy it was time to take a look at the Spy Museum.  So far entrance fees on the National Mall had cost a big fat zero.  So having to pay to get in a private museum brought a suspicious frown to my face.  However, I was pleasantly surprised to find the experience gave the kids plenty chance to have their hands on lots of interactive stuff and we were provided with an interesting look at espionage through the ages.  My favorite was the "Kiss of Death" KGB issue lipstick pistol. The tour culminates in the 21st Century with a quote on the wall about the end of the Cold War by the head of the CIA in 1993.

"We have slain a large dragon. But we live now in a jungle filled with a
bewildering variety of poisonous snakes. And in many ways,
the dragon was easier to keep track of."

R. James Woolsey 

"Thinker on a rocker" 

Barry Flanagan

From dragons one day to rabbits the next, our trip to Washington DC was becoming a blur of walking, museums and ice-cream.  The day started, like several others had, with an after-breakfast ice-cream.  We licked and wandered our way through the Sculpture Gardens, this morning's itinerary was the American History Museum.  

There's no place like home; there's no place like home; there's no place like home....

Last time I looked upon these ruby slipper I had permed hair, no wrinkles and a thick English accent.  22 years later and I'm really glad I can't find the original photograph to compare.  Needless to say that I've changed but the shoes haven't.  Funny, out of all the things I remember from 2 decades back, I really remember those shoes.  

"Snurfs up".

Unknown.

The museum is an amazing collection of everything from snurf boards and ruby slippers, to Harry Potter's uniform and Kelly Slater's short board.  Almost one whole floor is dedicated to all things Presidential, with a massive collection of first ladies' dresses which Jasmin thoroughly enjoyed.  However, it seemed she had her sights set on a more glorious burden.

“The presidency has made every man who occupied it, no matter how small, bigger than he was; and no matter how big, not big enough for its demands.”

 Lyndon B. Johnson

A swift swoop through the gift shop and it was time to grab a cab and head over to the Arlington Cemetery.  Montecito Union School, fifth grade class would be laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier later that afternoon and we wanted to hook up with old friends.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

 And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

 Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

 of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

 You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

 High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

 I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

 My eager craft through footless halls of air....

 Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue

 I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace.

 Where never lark, or even eagle flew —

 And, while with silent lifting mind I have trod

 The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

 - Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

John Magee

Before finding our friends we needed to look up some family. It took us quite some time to wander through the massive grounds of Arlington and find Greg's Uncle's grave.  Harvey, Harold and Henry Huglin, were three brothers, each a West Point graduate  and each would become a General.  Only Harold would exercise his right to be buried in Arlington.  We spent a quiet moment in honor of our own venerated soldier.  We had spent many days this past week commemorating historical figures from military and government.  This was our time for our own family, this was our direct connection to "Duty, honor, country".  We were a sombre, thoughtful group as we slowly walked back past the sections of graves marking each era in history, each battle, each life sacrificed. 

"Can miles truly separate us from friends? If we want to be with someone we love, aren't we already there?"

Richard Bach 

Arlington Cemetery truly is a remarkable place with over 250,000 military graves.  It was an odd spot for a reunion with dear friends.  We only had a few moments to greet before we became silent in respect, during the changing of the guard, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

"Here rests in honored glory

an American soldier known but to God"

Inscription on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a monument where the remains of an unidentified soldier are interred in dedication to all the American service members who died without identification of their remains.  In 1921 an American Serviceman from WWI was interred.  There are also representatives from WWII and the Korean War.  The remains of the serviceman from Vietnam were later identified based on DNA testing and so his remains removed from the site.

The tomb has been guarded in 24 hour shifts since 1937 and it is a prestigious honor to be chosen as a Sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknowns.  Only 20% of volunteers are chosen for training and a tiny fraction pass to become Tomb Guards.  It is the second least awarded decoration from the US Military (army astronaut is the first).  The soldier walking the mat does not wear any insignia to show his rank so as to not outrank the Unknowns.

The precision of the ceremony of the changing of the guard reminded me of the pomp and pageantry from English royalty.  Each serviceman takes up to 6 hours to prepare his uniform for the following day. Part of the drill is to take 21 steps across the mat and then face the tomb for 21 seconds, this alludes to a 21 gun salute.  Metal plates are built into the soldiers' shoes to make them more rugged and create the signature click of the heels.  When I looked at the worn tile I realized I was looking at the footsteps of over 70 years of continuous footsteps.

The fifth grade class from Montecito Union presented their wreath after the changing of the guard and as I watched the representative kids walk forward I felt an immense amount of pride at their deference and maturity.

"Let the word go forth 
From this time and place 
To friend and foe alike 
That the torch has been passed 
To a new generation of Americans." 

JFK Inaugural Address

Before we said goodbye to Arlington and our friends we stopped to pay respects at the Challenger memorial and the Eternal Flame of the Kennedy graves.  The afternoon sun was still hot and distant thunder threatened the skies as we walked out of the elaborate cemetery gates and hailed a minivan.  It had been quite a day, our mood was pensive and thoughtful as we headed off for dinner at the oldest Saloon in town - Ebbitts Grill.