If you have it, you wind up working on it! Today is moving day and everything has gone quite smoothly. It has been over a year since we loaded the car into the trailer but even that went without a hitch. Traffic wasn’t bad getting out of town and in just a couple hours we find ourselves settled into camp near Morefield WV. Kent turns of the bathroom faucet to wash up. The pump runs but no water comes out of the faucet. Only a couple causes for that: the tank is empty – we just filled it or the water is coming out somewhere else – not good. Turns out it is indeed the latter and Kent spends the afternoon doing plumbing work. I will let him share the gory details as he feels compelled. Suffice to say here that we once again have working plumbing.

We checked out pretty much every exhibit at the National Zoo. Lions prowled about. Leopards napped. Elephants paraded. The tiger roared – actually it is more of a bellowXmoan. Mama Panda snoozed and the youngest one sat and snacked on bamboo. A silverback gorilla showed off and the orangutan seemed to play with the visiting kids through the glass. There is an enclosure for a hairy screaming armadillo – I would have loved to see that creature but he didn’t make an appearance. I was surprised to find no bears – black, grizzly or polar; only a cool Andean bear and those adorable Pandas. I got my critter fix. Got my carousel fix too. I rode a lion!
To add to the fun, they have the ground decorated for Boo at the Zoo. Those are some really creative volunteers.

Today is museum day. We chose two.
The Museum of American History – inventions, transportation, presidents and first ladies, war -lots of war, and a pretty little pair of ruby slippers (just back from a two year restoration project). One could easily spend a whole day.

The Holocaust Memorial Museum – I have avoided any of these memorials as we have traveled around the country but decided that probably wasn’t right. So, in we go. Exhibits provide broad historical context, lots of facts, heart rending personal stories, and soul searing images. Some people carried out unspeakable acts and millions more looked on and did nothing. It is both depressing and frightening to know that human beings are capable of such atrocity. I realize that knowing we are capable is an important step toward preventing that sort of thing from happening again but it was as disturbing as I thought it would be. Even so, I am glad I went

Thursday we are headed to Arlington National Cemetery. Three lanes of traffic doing the stop and go thing for miles and “bink” the low air pressure light comes on. No berms, few ramps, and aggressive traffic everywhere. Finally get off the expressway and into a residential area to survey the tires. All seem OK. Well it is cooler that it has been for months so maybe it is just one a little low. A quick stop at a station to put $1.50 in a pump and all is well. Turns out all were a little low but one was at 27. So back on our way, into the fray. It really should not take over an hour to go 19 miles!!!

Today our plan was to visit the Goddard Space Center. All loaded up and “click” nothing. The battery is done. Not many people around in camp who are up and the car has the motorhome parked in so the jumper won’t reach from the motorhome to the car. Pulled a battery out of the trailer to use for a jump start. Lynn did some research while I got the car started and it is off for a new battery. Ordered the new battery online with pickup in the store. When I arrived, they said “Oh we don’t have any in inventory and won’t until Tuesday”. As I was giving him grief for why I could buy it and drive straight there to pickup and not get one, the manager corrected him and pointed out my battery sitting there ready and waiting. With a not so quick change in the parking lot we were on our way. It certainly could have been worse. It could have happened yesterday when we were miles back in a Wildlife Refuge or while we were in town. At least we were lucky even if the MegaMillions remains unclaimed.

They have a large visitor center with exhibits that focus on endangered species. A number of the displays were currently being worked on so not as impressive as usual but it is still a good stop. They expect work to continue ‘til some time summer 2019.
Things were pretty quiet on the wildlife front both on the drive and trails but it was still a nice place to spend a beautiful day.

Large monuments with family names and unique shapes catch my eye as we begin our walk along the quiet paths; but it is the row after row, column after column of the plain white markers that are the unforgettable image of this place.

Everything stands on ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown. The click of spit polished heels and the slap of hand on rifle are the only sounds that break the silence as we watch the precisely repeated pattern of the fresh faced, perfectly uniformed, soldier walking guard at the tomb. On the hour there is a perfectly choreographed exchange as another takes over the solemn task of honoring and protecting those whose identity is known only to God.
The wreath laying ceremony is carried out with equal precision. The clear tones of taps fill the air along with reverence and gratitude for the sacrifice these men made.

The Women In Military Service for America Memorial lies between the huge ornate entry gates in the space and incorporating the stonework that was originally designated as the ceremonial entrance to Arlington. The goal is to educate and inspire as well as celebrate past and present service; making it much more museum like than other memorials. It feels sort of odd to need to separately recognize the contributions and sacrifice of women. It makes it feel lessor somehow, like oh yeah, they have done stuff too. It is well done though and certainly educational. I wonder how women will be included in memorials going forward.