I am continuing to write of my daughter C’s and my activities and adventures while make the most of our domestic posting to Washington, D.C. Lately, I have found it a bit harder to write about what we have been up to here in the United States. While I rarely discuss politics in this blog, I feel I must acknowledge the impact recent political shifts have had on myself and how they color the way many of us experience places and travel. The activities in this post start at the end of December, before the change in the government, and end in March, a few months into the new administration. Through it all, I continue to place great importance on meaningful experiences—time for my daughter and I to be together: to be entertained, to witness great performances, to explore historical sites, and to simply have fun.
Winter is my least favorite season of the year. I often plan a getaway to a warm (or warmer) destination around the holidays, and otherwise just plan to get through the chilly days. This year, I wanted to be a bit more intentional with indoor or seasonally appropriate activities that would make it pass a bit more pleasantly.
We started our winter activity extravaganza just after our return from our winter cruise with tickets to see the award-winning Broadway production of the Life of Pi at the Kennedy Center. I read the book some 20 years before and it had such a strong effect on me I recall where I was when I read it: in Hanoi during a trip to attend a conference. I had the book with me when I went out for an evening dinner and happened to sit near a table of U.S. diplomats. As luck would have it, my daughter C had selected the book from a pile of freebies at the end of sixth grade. I knew we would both enjoy the Tony award winning play with it’s power story by actors interacting with amazing puppets. I managed to get us second-row seats and it truly was a great night out.
At the very end of December, I booked us a tour of the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress. C has joined an all-girls BSA Scout troop here in northern Virginia and one of the requirements for the Eagle-required Citizenship in the Nation merit badge is to visit one’s state capitol or the U.S. Capitol. I had not toured the Capitol for at least 20 years and loved the idea of visiting again with C.
All visitors to the U.S. Capitol are whisked through the public areas of the building with quick precision. There is a 13-minute introductory film and then each group is taken to the crypt, the rotunda, and statuary hall. Sadly, the public tours do not visit either the Senate or House galleries or climb up into the dome. I was surprised by the crowds on the last Saturday of the year. The rooms are so visually rich, I wanted more time to drink it in, but we had only so much time in any given spot before we had to move along.
After the Capitol tour, our guides led us along the underground passageway to the Library of Congress. I had only visited the building once before; while working at the Defense Department, I went to the reading room in search of one particular book or article. How I could possibly have forgotten the astonishing grandeur of the library, I shall never know. But, my goodness, the Library is a feast for the eyes and a bibliophile’s dream. Again, the tour just scratched the surface. Unlike the U.S. Capitol, a visit to the Library is self-guided. C and I enjoyed the information, delivered with a comedic touch, of our guide, but I surely could have spent at least another hour languidly exploring the rooms. C, perhaps not, but she did like the Library portion of the tour better.
For our January outing, we lucked out with an absolutely glorious winter’s day to head to the Building Museum in downtown Washington, D.C. Like so many other places on my list of places to drag my daughter to, I last visited the Building Museum some 20 years before. One of the best parts of the museum is its location, housed in the gorgeous former headquarters of the U.S. Pension Bureau. Its distinctive red brick exterior is very attractive, but it is really the interior, with its Great Hall complete with eight massive Corinthian columns, that sets the museum apart.
The museum educates the public on the impact of architecture, planning, and design on our everyday lives and how it can transform communities. When C asked me where we were headed, she expressed skepticism that the visit would be of any interest to her. However, she loved the Great Hall and the exhibits. The “Mini Memories” exhibit featuring souvenir buildings from around the world was right up her alley. She familiar with many of the knickknacks such as the Empire State Building in NY, the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, Big Ben in London, or the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, all of which she had visited. She really enjoyed the Brick City exhibit celebrating iconic architecture from around the world made with LEGO Bricks. And surprisingly, she also found the exhibit on Brutalism interesting, as one can find many buildings from that unfortunate period in architecture around D.C.
C made a Philadelphia Eagles player out of LEGOs and that evening we took part in one of the most Americana of winter activities: watching the Superbowl.
In February, C and I returned to the Kennedy Center to see an exquisite performance by the National Ballet of China. The company reimagined The Nutcracker, keeping the beloved original score but giving it a fresh twist for Chinese New Year. Every scene was infused with rich cultural elements—from dancers wearing zodiac animal masks to a graceful crane dance, and striking costumes inspired by blue-and-white porcelain and decorative fans. Once again, I managed to score seats close to the stage, which let us fully immerse ourselves in the performance. I was not quite sure how C felt about it all, until she leapt to her feet to applaud at curtain call. (Sadly, this will be our last visit to the Kennedy Center until it is less politicized).
To close out our winter season adventures, we went to our first professional basketball game, cheering on the Washington Wizards as they took on the Orlando Magic. While the Wizards did not appear interested in playing defense and only found their rhythm late in the final quarter, we had a really great time. The two and a half hours flew by as we were engaged and entertained from start to finish. I have a feeling this won’t be our last live basketball game!
Winter has never been my favorite season, and, between the shifting political climate and some personal challenges, this one was harder than most—between the shifting political climate and some personal challenges. But making sure C and I carved out space for fun and good memories made all the difference. From memorable performances to D.C. highlights, we found a great mix of things to keep us busy. And now, with spring (and warmer weather) finally settling in, I’m looking forward to lighter days—both in season and in spirit.
The Wanderlust Diaries 