Wednesday, November 16, 2011

What I’ll Miss About DC

The blog has been silent for a long time and if I have any readers left, you have probably guessed that my detail to Washington ended and I’ve returned home to north Alabama.  It’s been great coming back to my wife and my home and the foliage and football of October was like a welcome sign.  Starting a new job and returning to my pre-detail routine and life has suppressed the urge to write however and it’s hard to believe that I haven’t posted anything in two months.  The guilt finally got to me so here are my “top ten” things that I’ll miss about living in Washington in no particular order.

1.        Life without a car.  Driving, especially filling my car with gas is now something I dislike.  Commuting to work via the Metro and walking and biking everywhere is a healthier lifestyle and forces one’s mind to think differently.

2.       Great restaurants.  The culinary selection in my hometown has improved over the years, but I’ll miss the selection of wonderful ethnic restaurants that DC has to offer.

3.       Proximity to power.  There’s no denying the excitement of being right next to the White House, Congress, the Supreme Court and walking the same streets as the people on the news.

4.       The Mount Vernon and Rock Creek Trails.  I had many memorable runs and bike rides on these well maintained and scenic trails that offer great views of the city.

5.       Arlington Cemetery.  Situated on a hillside overlooking DC from across the Potomac, the cemetery with its long rows of neat simple gravestones is a constant reminder of the price of freedom.

6.       The Mall and Smithsonian museums.  The best things in Washington are free and the museums flanking the Mall are among the best in the world.  Natural History and the National Gallery of Art are my favorites.

7.       The Monuments.  All the monuments are inspiring, but the Lincoln Memorial at night is a must see for a visitor to Washington.

8.       Observing veterans visiting the War Memorials.  Having the opportunity to say “thank you” to an elderly WWII veteran in a wheel chair is a moving experience.

9.       Professional sports.  Although one could argue that the Crimson Tide football team is an exception, we don’t have professional sports in Alabama.  Becoming familiar with the Redskins, the Nationals, and DC United has given me some new teams to root for.

10.   My colleagues at work.  Everywhere that  I’ve lived I’ve met good people and Washington was no exception.  I’ll miss the friends that I made over the past year, but it’s nice to have an expanded network.