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Walking the city
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May 7, 2009 9:44 am
971 Views
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For a long time, we lived in Maryland and Virginia. Although Washington, D.C. has one of the greatest collection of valuable cultural artifacts, we were too busy raising our kids to partake.
Couple weeks ago, my wife tagged along with me on my business trip to Rockville, Maryland. We landed in Dulles airport, saw old friends, and drove up to New Jersey to see our son. We thought we were going to meet his new (first) girlfriend, short blonde sophomore. Turns out they were on a “break”. Good thing. My wife was not in favor of a high school kid having girlfriends. “You should be studying, not dating.” But when she found out that the girl had asked for the break, she suddenly became incensed. “What! How could she do that? What is wrong with my son.” Well, we had a nice talk and he was happy.
We drove down to Washington, D.C., and slept in town. We got up, and began walking the city. We walked from M St. and 22nd to the Smithsonian museums, and it was wonderful. An overcast day in the 70’s – a great day for walking. Saw the Renwick Museum, Hirschorn and the National Gallery. Fantastic stuff. D.C. does not have the feel of a large city like New York, but nevertheless, it invigorates. Will do it again, I am sure. There is so much to see and do in D.C. Walking the city is the best way.
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The save
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May 7, 2009 9:29 am
1150 Views
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I saw something fantastic today.
My wife and I, wishing to take a break from life and work, drove down to Detweiler Beach in L.A., just about a half hour from where we live. Just the two of us, strolling, not talking, just staring at the dark blue waters under the afternoon sun and . . . breathing. Got blisters on my baby skin feet from walking barefoot all the way to Marina Del Ray on the concrete bike path.
Took a break . . . from stress of work . . . a sweet old woman, saw my problems and the mounting pressures of overwork . . . “got any due dates today?” “No, but lot of work to do.” She ordered me out. This was to be a mandatory break . . . but, but, I have work to do . . . no, we are leaving . . . where to mister? Desert? Beach? Mountains? . . . don’t care . . . cannot go. . . mountain. And we end up in the chilly breeze of Detweiler beach.
Suddenly, we hear a hollow yelp, “Help! Help!” I heard it twice. And I saw waving arms on the beach. A group of kids wave and point at a bobbing brother being carried away into the infinite ocean. Other onlookers stare in the general direction. My glance quickly shifts to the lifeguard station. And within a blink of an eye, I see the lifeguard tearing out of his station and driving to the site, gets out and swims to the boy. He was fast. Incredibly fast. I do not remember seeing a human being so quick. I saw him swim powerfully gracefully to the boy, and when he finally reached the boy and locked his arms around him, which took only maybe 30 seconds, tears streamed down my eyes. It was majestic. The human condition – how fragile it is, how easy it is to lose its value – but how majestic and glorious it is to save it, even just one.
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