What a day (despite the cold and wind)! We headed into DC early and had a
great time! We got to see Da's new office and ride a metro train -- a
first for Ma (a second for Be)! That alone would have been enough -- but no
-- there's more (this is as exciting as our life gets -- but we like it that
way). We went to the Smithsonian and stamped in at that cool site. What
fun and we liked the hinged stamp! The water fountain is fairly hidden and
I think it is easy to get to without arousing suspicion. The guards were
very nice. They were very interested in my flashlight (a new addition since
or days of wandering in the woods at dusk...) The paper is so delicate. It
would be great to see it displayed one day. But, even if not, it was a
great excuse to go into DC which we don't do often enough (one never seems
to visit one's own backyard). The wind blew us across the mall to the
Natural History museum where the guards were once again very interested in
our flashlight. They stuck a stick in our pack (which I discovered later)
I don't know if this is a "sign" saying our pack had been checked and we
were ok or "watch out -- this family is strange...". But, now, we have a
new official "poking stick" for when we go back in the woods!

Being so close by, we went over to National Geographic. A note to those who
couldn't find the box. There is confusion, I bet, over which squares to
count. If you count the wrong squares, you too end up by a junction box.
And, to judge by the mini crater dug underneath it.... We went back to the
spot two more times thinking maybe someone was stamping it at the time.
Then, on the way back from the bathroom in the building across the courtyard
(the ones in National Geographic are undergoing renovations) Mom BeMa
decided to go with her original idea of which squares to count and VOILA --
it was there!

I wanted to let anyone out there with young kids (or not so young) know that
the exhibit currently at National Georgraphic is great! I guess the Egypt
exhibit was there when the box was originally planted. It is now a series
of wild life photography with some very colorful photos. There are great
blow ups of tiny, wild caterpillars and some great camouflage shots. The
kids really enjoyed it! Then, if you go a little further, there is a
wonderful very hands on exhibit on biodiversity. There are also sorts of
buttons to push, computers to try, sing a longs to sing a long with, etc.
Perfect for a cold, windy day outside.


Thank you to legerdemaine and the doubtful guests for encouraging us to come
into DC and have this wonderful day!

BeMa
P3 F22


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