So We're Back

As I mentioned last night, we're home from Virginia. I say this with much sadness, as coming home from vacation always means returning to reality. Of course, it can also mean saying goodbye to friends and places that we enjoy. Yesterday was no different.

Sean and I began the day early enough. Rebecca had predicted that, since Rose and Lilah needed to be up early to get to camp. Jon had to head to work. So to us, it was no big deal. After all, we had left New York at 5:06 on Friday morning.

We had spent Sunday night just riding around the city, so that Sean could see Monument Ave. light up (it's one of the most beautiful stretches of a street that I've seen). Of course it would be best to be there in the dark but it's hard to keep him out that late in the summer, as he needs his sleep. Still a dad can make an exception, no?

Breakfast needed to be the first order of the day. Sean had wanted Krispy Kreme, and I was in no position to argue. Sure, I didn't get my big Southern breakfast but that's show biz - another reason to come back to "River City." It's to the credit of all involved (mostly Jon and Rebecca) that we kept things affordable, and that included eating at the house. Admittedly, that's normally verboten in the "Rob Adams Vacation Handbook" but this wasn't entirely an ordinary trip.

We enjoyed our doughnuts and Sean got his fix of watching them being made before hitting the road for some more views of Richmond from several different angles. Yes, multiple road pics will surface one day. We departed R-Va around 10:00 AM.

Next stop: Washington, DC. Sean has been interested in seeing the Lincoln Memorial with all of the buildup to the latest "Night at the Museum" movie. We first visited the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington (still stunning), which helped give Sean his first views of the city. Then we crossed the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge and shockingly found a parking spot in East Potomac Park. It took a 10-minute walk to get to Honest Abe. I first visited DC in 1984 (I was 15) but, like Sean, always was fascinated by Washington. It still inspires and leaves one in awe.

Pictures are coming - especially the completely hysterical shot of Milk Dud the Second at the Lincoln Memorial. He would be a stuffed guinea pig named after the one in Sean's first grade class. Seriously.

Despite fairly warm temperatures, we walked to the Vietnam memorial, then made our way to the World War II memorial before arriving at the Washington Monument. Ever the bridesmaid, I still have never been inside the tall structure and I knew I wouldn't get there on this day either. This was also about the point that Sean had just about had his fill of Washington. We returned to the car...slowly.

I drove him past the White House (as close as one can get in 2009) and showed him some of the Smithsonian but he had decided that he was ready to head for home. I guess I was also so we made our way out of the District so that I could catch a glimpse of Nationals Park (and eventually RFK Stadium).

Traffic wasn't great and we didn't even come close to making the time that we made heading south. In all, we wouldn't get home until 8:30 that night - struggling through Philadelphia and working our way through Bucks County to avoid tolls and heavy traffic on the New Jersey Turnpike.

On the subject of avoiding tolls, I also have decided that the state of Delaware won't be getting $4 from me to travel Interstate 95 for the foreseeable future. It's bad enough that Maryland rips drivers out of $5 heading north and there really isn't a convenient way to dodge that way, but Delaware's is inexcusable, and easily passed. You lose a few minutes in the process but it this hideously awful economic time, it's worth it.

Today we went and saw the new "Transformers" movie. I can think of worse ways to waste a few hours.