Mall Rats - The Longest Day of Vacation (Part 1)

For the benefit of the readers this next essay will be broken into chapters. What follows is part 1 of an interminable series of events culminating in 4th of July fireworks on the National Mall.

"My legs hurt. I can't go on," exclaimed the pathetic little voice clung to my back slowing our progress. Evan had collapsed on a bench incapable of, or at least unwilling to move.

Ironically we hoofed it more in our five days in the nation's capitol than we did in our two weeks in Colorado and Utah. Perhaps the density of hiking and severity of foot boo-boos just made it seem as if that was the case. Evan's sandals had rubbed an eraser size red spot on the back of his foot. However, the howling for a band-aid would have led any casual observer to believe that we were the meanest parents on the face of the planet. They would have been certain of it after Evan's proclamation at  Lincoln Memorial. A passing priest immediately began performing an exorcism. Clara Barton rose from the dead to attend to the battle wound. A passing lawyer offered his card and told Evan he could sue for emotional distress. Former President Clinton jogged by and said, "I feel your pain." Even Colette and I began to empathize it had been a long day and we still had about nine hours until the fireworks.

Evan's Boo-Boo under only moderate magnification.

We had again bought a day pass for the Metro with the intention of hopping on the train periodically throughout the day. Unfortunately, this is not practical. By the time you walk to the train station you might as well have walked to your destination. We did make one transfer to the blue-line and arrived at Arlington station, our first stop of the day. Upon reaching the surface we asked a local family which way to go to get to the cemetery. Our main goal was to visit Arlington House, Robert E. Lee's residence before he became a traitor and current NPS site. We were pointed in the right direction but before we headed off she suggested that we take the walk across the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial.

"It's just  lovely. It's a little hike but worth it, " she coerced.

Of course when on vacation you should always take the suggestions of locals. And if George Washington could through a silver dollar across the thing, then we could walk it.

Washington had one hell of an arm.

We walked to the cemetery visitor center and realized that Arlington House was at the top of a hill overlooking the cemetery. The entire property at one time belong to Lee. Built by his father-in-law George Washington Parke Custis, Lee and his wife Mary Custis lived there until Virginia's secession. Lee was often gone due to military obligations in the Mexican war, however he was in residence to deal with the estate after the death of his father-in-law, and thus was available to deal with the disturbance at Harper's Ferry and capture John Brown.

This of course was while he was a Colonel in the federal army. After succession and Lee's resignation the property was seized by federal troops under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell and several military  fortifications were built.


Later in order to prevent the Lee family from ever taking possession of the home againBrig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs appropriated the grounds for a cemetery. 

"If we can't kill his confederate ass at least we can haunt the heck out of it." ~Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs

We began the march up hill and it was evident that it would be a long day when Evan asked if there was going to be a shuttle. There was not. The path to the top is a who's who of dead people. We stopped at the eternal flame commemorating John F. Kennedy where it became evident that Evan was not in the mood to be respectful.

We continued on to Arlington house only to find that it is currently under renovation. You can still tour it and look at placards of what the rooms should look like, but the actual rooms had been stripped of any wallpaper, paint and furniture. Finishing the junior ranger book was a struggle. Evan couldn't sit still and the bugs were beginning to dine on our sweat salted shins. He did finally get his badge.

Pictured: The calm before the storm.

A glance at the map revealed that the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier sat just a short distance away. On the map it appeared to be less than an inch. The sight of the guard ameliorated Evan's disposition and the stairs offered a brief respite from our stroll as we watch the sentry.

The return trip though equidistant was significantly more pleasant owing to the fact that we were now going down hill, and soon we were at the bridge across the Potomac. Perhaps it was the humidity or maybe the warm front of over-stimulation colliding with a cold front of exhaustion that had moved in this morning formed the squall of foul temper in Evan. Whatever the meteorological explanation may be the thunderclap of attitude would flare up as we crossed the river.