The inauguration of the new president was not the reason for the stop over in the nation’s capital. We planned the lay over to visit with my niece, Renee and her family: husband Tom, son Zander (6) and Abigail (4), and to see my wonderful friend Colleen. The capital was subdued compared to the chaos of six adults and two young children plus Sundance the dog in the suburbs of Falls Church.

Renee and Tom hosted two women who’d come to march on Saturday, as well as Jim and me. The conversation was raucous and definitely not in favor of the “orange yam”.

The kids were confused – are we watching something interesting on TV? And if so, why are we so annoyed by it? Hard to explain, kids. It’s like science fiction only real.

Renee and Tom live steps from a historic if tiny park commemorating Andrew Ellicott, one of the surveyors who mapped out the US capital.  The park’s iron fence enclosure was built by Tom, with some welding advice from my brother-in-law Ed – so I feel like it’s part of the family. The cornerstone has stood the test of time, something to think about as our country veers in an unpredictable direction.

Washington DC has as much culture in one block as our entire home state of Idaho. It’d take weeks to see even half of it and your feet would not be happy. But, again, lucky for me, my friend Colleen lives a stone’s throw from the National Cathedral and on a perfect January day

we toured around it. The weathering and moss make it look ancient when in reality the building is quite young. Colleen made sure I saw the startlingly huge clematis vine; geezus, it is impressive (not my exact words, but you get the picture). The vine can’t be more than 40 years old but resembles has the an ancient Ent of Fangorn Forest.

Botanically satisfied, we returned home to admire the bust of Marquis de Layfette by Jean-Antoine Houdon – the French general indispensable in General George Washington’s efforts secure the creation of the United States.