The plans were made and they looked great: we go to North Carolina for the Methodist Orphanage Reunion and then for a visit with the family in Johnston County, NC. From there we (sisters Shirley, Joan, Frances and her husband Jan, their grandson Michael and Jenny & I) would go to Washington, DC primarily to see the Cherry Blossoms, but of course also to see many of the other sites. Except Michael, who recorded many “firsts” on the trip, we had all been to DC before (although it had been a very long time since we were there). Our brother Billie and his wife Patsy, who lives in Fredericksburg, Virginia decided to meet us there, even though they have been to see the sites many, many times. It was planned as a mini-family reunion!
We stayed in the Hampton Inn at National Harbor, MD, a new community on the Potomac just outside of DC that opened in 2008; so new that my GPS system didn’t even show it, therefore of course I got lost! The community includes the Gaylor National Resort and Convention Center, said to be the largest hotel on the east coast without a casino.
BUT the bottom line is that we were a couple of days late for the Cherry Blossoms. We had a great time together anyway. The crowds were so large that we couldn’t even get into some of the sites; we did do the obligatory walk down to the Tidal Basin to check out the “trees” without “blossoms”. We all had different itineraries so on most days we went to different sites. Jan took Michael to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and to couple of the great Smithsonian Museums. Jenny and I went to the Library of Congress and the US Botanic Gardens on one day and National Gallery of Art another day.
Shirley, Joan, Frances, Jenny and I drove to the National Cathedral on the last day, since it was on all of our list of “things to see”.
The Family: Jan, Frances, Shirley, Bobby, Joan, Michael, Billie & Patsy (Jenny took the picture), enjoying a little refreshment.
Did I say there were no trees in bloom? Well maybe on or two!
Shirley, Joan, Jenny & Michael ready for a big day sightseeing!
Jenny at the US Botanic Gardens just off the Mall and southeast of the Capitol.
Jenny in the East Building of the National Gallery
Bobby, Frances, Joan & Shirley in front of the National Cathedral.
Great pictures Uncle Bobby!!
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