First Day of Winter, But Not in Bristow

Hayden at Her Desk

Halle Before the Dentist

Halle After the Dentist

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery

Up at 6:40 for coffee and just as I sat down, I heard footsteps on the stairs, and there came Hayden, to grab a blanket, come to the couch, and snuggle up next to me as we begin to read through some of the Blogs, especially her cousin Marlena.  It's still gray and wet outside though it may clear, with a high of 61, so it does not look like we will have a white Christmas, alas.

Yesterday, Drew and I went into Washington, to visit Arlington Cemetery.  The last time I was there must have been in 1953, when I went with the local YMCA.  Unfortunately, it was a rainy day though we were able to walk for a couple of hours.  We went in through the Ft. Myers gate, and viewed all the amazing houses(mansions) where the high ranking generals live, like Petraeus and Odierno.  They are carefully closed off to the public for obvious reasons but because of Drew, we were at least able to drive by and view them from a distance.  The cemetery is much larger than I expected though I am not sure what I expected.  There were  funerals going on, usually on and off all day, some more formal than others.  The Old Guard is responsible for the making sure all men and women are buried with appropriate honor.  The one major burial included about 40 marching soldiers, six men on horses, a riderless horse, a casket pulled by horses, followed by numerous cars, obviously the family.  As we walked we could hear rifle shots, another sign of someone being placed to rest.  We meandered mostly, though we made sure to see JFK's memorial as well as the tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  If it had been nicer out, we would have walked longer.  Other families or tourists wandered about as well.

We then went into Old Town Alexandria, had lunch at a pub Drew knew called Michael Collins, where I had a Shepherd's pie, Drew a burger.  We then fought our way home through traffic, slow moving and crowded, the norm for DC at almost any time.  We got home in time for Drew to go for a run, me to take a nap.  Evie and Jill spent the afternoon at the girls' school, helping out.  Because it was wet, the girls spent the afternoon inside playing.  After a great dinner of spiral sliced ham and mac and cheese, Evie and I and the girls went for a walk in the neighborhood, looking at all the Christmas lights, something which seems to becoming a nightly routine. The girls are talking about doing it again tonight and it's only 7:45 in the morning.

Today the girls get off at noon, so we will have the afternoon to enjoy them.  Not much on the agenda other than hope for good weather so we can enjoy the outside.