Hope
The kids had off of school yesterday, so we decided to take a trip to DC.
When we told the kids of our plans to go to D.C. they immediately began asking if we were going to the National Zoo to see the giant pandas. We always go to the zoo to see the pandas.
I was in the mood for something different. I mean how many times can you watch a big, fat bear stuff his face with bamboo anyway?
We decided to take a panda-free walking tour of the monuments instead. Once they got over their disappointment in not getting to see the pandas, the kids really enjoyed the tour. I highly recommend it if you are ever in the area. Did I mention that it was FREE?!!
The tour ended up at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I couldn’t help but think of a few things.
First, I thought of Forrest Gump looking for his Jenny.
Because whenever I visit a city I think of the movies that were filmed there before I think of the actual historical events. That is just how my brain works.
Then my thoughts shifted when I noticed the plaque marking the spot where Dr. Martin Luther King stood and made his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
I stood there on that very spot, on the eve of our presidential election, and I couldn’t help but become overwhelmed with a feeling that I haven’t had in a very long time.
Hope.
For many years, I have felt that no matter who gets elected that things will stay the same. Politicians will lie to get into office but nothing ever seems to change once they are there. The system just doesn’t seem to work and it always felt pointless to try to believe in something so corrupt.
I’m not sure why, but I really do feel that things can be different this time around.
For whatever reason, I have hope that the right person will be chosen. I have hope that person will finally be able to bring this country together. I have hope that things will change for the better.
Are you feeling hopeful that things can be different this time around? Leave me a comment and let me know that you voted or when you are planning to vote. Was there a certain issue that helped to make up your mind?
Here are a few non-panda pictures from our trip:
Note: This picture was totally posed. My kids never stand like that on their own free will. They were heavily bribed with promises of going to see dinosaur bones at the Smithsonian museum as soon as we take this one last picture.
Did you know that Lincoln grew out his beard because of a letter he received from an 11 year old girl? She told him that he would look more handsome and that wives would encourage their husbands to vote for him (think Ryan Gosling in The Notebook). Of course it worked, and when he won the election, Lincoln invited the very smart girl to his inaugural dinner. This is one of the many interesting little tidbits we learned on our tour.
The WW2 Memorial was my favorite monument on the tour. I don’t think I’ve ever been here before. It is very beautiful in person. This picture does not do it justice.
A turtle just hanging out in the reflecting pool.
I wonder if Sarah Palin knows that those pesky scientists at the Smithsonian are trying to teach our precious children about that crazy little theory of theirs…something about evolution.
Sshhh…let’s keep that our little secret.
(Sorry, I just couldn’t help but throw that in there for Matt Damon.)
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I have hope, but I’ve been let down by elections (and my state of Ohio) before. So not too much.
And when people start throwing the word Socialist around to refer to a candidate who wants the kind of access to healthcare most European nations and Japan have had for years, I feel disappointed in the American people. It’s one thing to disagree with someone’s policies, but to reduce it to one word, shows how ignorant and perhaps cruel some folks are.
Sorry, what were you saying about Matt Damon?
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I am very hopeful as well. I think (hope) great change will come from either candidate.
I’m going to vote here pretty soon.
Love the pics with the kids. The things we make our kids do to get that perfect Hallmark moment shot.
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I wish I could tell you I was feeling hopeful. I’m trying. And my lack of hope won’t be keeping me away from the polls in three hours (I’m going with dh on his lunch break so that neither of us is forced to go the polls alone with a two year old).
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I DO have hope. I’m like you, I feel that things could really be different this time around, and I look forward to finding out what we’re in for. As for my vote, I am a very blue dot in a VERY red state. Which is one reason I don’t discuss politics on my blog.
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I’ve only been to D.C once but it was such a brief stop that I didn’t get a chance to take in any of the sights. I hope, once the Imp is a bit older, that we can head down there, especially to the Smithsonian, and take a few days to take everything in.
Sounds like you guys had an awesome day trip. Loved the photos.
Hope? Yes. I am feeling a sense of hope and much more!
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How fun. I’ve never been to DC. When I do go, I’m doing the Segway tour and your coming with!
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The WWII Memorial IS amazing, isn’t it? We took my Grandpa there (he’s a D-day veteran) a few years ago. It was very touching to relive some of his memories with him.
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I, like you, am hopeful that we will see a change in our country and regain some of the respect from other countries that has been lost in the past several years. Waited over two hours in line today to vote…my candidate will not carry the state of South Carolina unless something VERY out of the ordinary happens but I am hopeful nonetheless that other states will give him the electoral votes he needs. If not, I STILL have hope that the other candidate will not continue the status quo.
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Sounds like you had a great trip….thanks for sharing!
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I voted yesterday! It had been a few years since I’d voted (I forgot where I was registered, so hadn’t been receiving my ballots in the mail – lame, huh?) but this years antics got me off my seat to get out and do something about it.
Great post, I loved the photos!!
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I’m hopeful too — and what a perfect place to spend the night before the world will change . . . for the better (hopefully)! That shot of he kids hugging, even if it was posed, gave me goosebumps!
OBAMA/BIDEN!
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This almost brought me to tears. I think if I had stood on Martin Luther King’s footsteps yesterday I would have cried.
Give your kids some extra left-over-halloween candy from me – great posing
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I LOVE the monuments tour in D.C. I just heart D.C. period. My son could live there, with all of the history!
Good post!
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