True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Psalm 23:3 (The Message)
Husband only gets two weeks of vacation a year and they have to be used by November 1 or he loses them. This has been a stressful year for him as his workplace is under construction and for a time he was working in an outdoor garage. Not to mention the usual complaint of employees these days of being asked to do more with less. Summer came and went and other than the week we went to see oldest son, he has not been able to schedule time for his second week. Now, November 1 is approaching so today, we are back on the road. For those of you possible burglars lurking here in hopes of finding an easy mark, know we are leaving behind a boy in the body of a man and two dogs to guard the house. The Doberman would be easy to get by, just make the sound of thunder and she will cower behind the toilet, but the Chesapeake Bay Retriever might take your leg off so be careful around her. Husband and I are headed to see our adopted daughter who lived with us while she was in college. We get to see her about once a year, but never on her turf so we are excited to visit where she lives and works. Manassas, Virginia is our initial destination. We will spend a few days with her and take a day trip into Washington, DC. On Tuesday, we will leave the truck at her place and take off on the motorcycle to finish riding the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Skyline Drive. We have only been as far north as Roanoke so we will be riding from Roanoke to Front Royal, Virginia and crossing that off our Bucket List! We are much later in the year than we usually travel by bike so our leather jackets and chaps are packed in the truck as well as boots and heavy socks and gloves. It is a low of 40 degrees and only a high of 64 and with the wind whizzing past us in the mountains, we will be chilly. I’m not complaining. We are leaving behind ninety degree heat and humidity! I am particularly excited about going to Washington, DC if even just for a day. It has been years since I was last there and it will be fun to go with residents who know the ins and outs of the city. We are even going to ride the metro to get there! We are promised a visit to the war and presidential memorials, a little while in one of the Smithsonian Museums and a surprise at the end of the day. I need a vacation after a very busy few weeks. Last Sunday, our pastor preached on 1 Kings continuing the story of Elijah and how he worked and worked until he was exhausted. I know how he felt and am looking forward to a few days to relax and unwind.
I love DC, too! The Vietnam Memorial always makes me cry. There's always so much to do – I used to schedule an extra day to just explore when I had meetings in DC. I don't go there anymore and I miss it. I love the Metro. I wish we had one here.
My son is going to DC for his 8th grade trip. I wish I could go as chaparone, but can't afford it. He's been there once, I think he was 6 or 7. He loved it too and is thrilled to get to go back.