The Big Trip

Two weekends ago, JS and I went on a big trip: we took a bus to Washington, DC to tour Smithsonians.  Smithsonians have free admission, and I do not spend money on the Sabbath.  Overall, we saw three museums and part of a fourth: zoo on Friday, where we looked at elephants (Asian, for those of you who care about the difference) and primates; and American Indian, Air and Space, and Natural History, all on Saturday.  There is so much in Natural History--and we only just got a chance to peek around--so if we do this trip again, we are going to start there.  Their Hall of Human Origins alone was fantastic.

If you have been reading this blog for any length of time, you know that I have spinal cord stimulators implanted.  What you probably do not know is that I really shouldn't go through metal detectors.  Two of the three Saturday museums were more or less fine with this, though you could see they were taken aback and improvising how to let me through and prove that I was safe; however Air and Space almost did not want to believe that I had them in the first place.  That is so demeaning--did they really think I would invent something like that? To make matters worse, they had sent my bag through the x-ray while keeping me separate, so I couldn't even access my things.

It must have been fury that kept me calm as I said, "In my bag is a card that can prove this, if you will let me have my bag."  Fortunately at that point they let me take my bag and enter the museum, but I was so glad I had brought the card (ID/proof from the company) just in case.

Ironically enough, I think of the three museums of which we managed to do as much as we wanted--zoo, American Indian, and Air and Space--Air and Space was my favorite.  Such detailed, impressive exhibits, including on the Bleriot planes.  (Bleriot was a famous, pioneering pilot, French I think; my family had a picture book about him when I was small.)

And I forgot to take any relevant pictures, so I have none to add here.

I am not saying the weekend was perfect--it wasn't; we were getting to know each other even better than we already do, and love is never perfect--but it was memorable, and JS and I will cherish the memories forever.