In Conversation with Washington, DC
The District, the Beauty, the People
Before coming to Substack, I often wrote about having conversations with a city - my city, New York City, which always inspires me. An example of one, which can be found here, opens with,
Exploring with others prompts new ways of seeing – if we look. Sharing our experience allows it to grow.
There was a whole lot of seeing and sharing this past weekend. A friend and I spent four days in Washington, DC to see the cherry blossoms, and we were fortunate to experience their peak bloom. She had lived in DC as a Georgetown student, stayed for her first job, and had gone back now and again. I visited in the late 80s / early 90s with my now ex-husband and had not been back. There was much for both of us to see with new eyes.
First Impressions
We drove through multiple areas of the district to start with a broad overview. My first impression was that it was much bigger than I had remembered. Then again, we had been warned to stay away from certain areas, so my experience was limited to the buildings and museums on and around the National Mall and a bit of Georgetown. The size was my first surprise.
Everything I saw this past weekend across a fairly wide area was vibrant, beautiful, pristine – filled with a profusion of color. I loved the architecture, the flowering trees everywhere we looked, the history, and more.
Those World-Famous Cherry Blossoms
The second surprise was that the cherry trees were not alone in expressing their beauty. Magnolia trees, my favorite in New York City, were everywhere – and they too were at peak bloom. And if that wasn’t enough, the forsythia was also at peak bloom, adding their yellow to the various shades of pink.
The magnolia trees were magnificent! Maybe it’s good that they don’t get better press. There were relatively few people stopping to enjoy them. Crowds gathered along the Potomac to see the cherry blossoms, but no one seemed to be looking elsewhere. Most of the district was waiting to be discovered.
The People
We spoke with so many people – those who lived there and those like us who were visiting – and all were incredibly warm and kind. We learned so much from them!
On a lunch cruise down the Potomac, one of the staff, Chris, shared the richness of the area’s history with us as we passed landmark after landmark. He was the best part of our two-hour tour! And someone working at the Waldorf Astoria stopped by as we finished their wildly delicious cherry-inspired afternoon tea and shared a few must-see places in NYC and DC.
Two sisters standing in front of us as we waited to enter the absolutely beautiful Library of Congress were a delight. One lived in DC and the other was visiting. A group of eight women on the lunch cruise were a joy to laugh with. We met while waiting to board and reconnected during and at the end. It was wonderful to be welcomed into their small group of friends.
It’s all about the people – at least for me.
I am a Myers-Briggs introvert as well as being inherently shy, and that is often misunderstood. I don’t experience a need to be alone – others do. I am very comfortable with solitude, but my energy soars when I’m in one-on-one or small group conversations – they feed my soul. Put me in a party, however, and I’m the classic wallflower standing in a corner, waiting to leave. Once I escape, I can quickly regain a sense of peace.
It's All Good
We experienced a repeated lesson over our four days in the district. My friend had a habit of trying to push things forward to her desired end, and I understand that. When you know what you want, you want it! I was more open to the experience of what was unfolding in the moment. How Zen of me, right?!
The more she pushed, the more I accepted what was. A driver taking a route different from what she would have done turned into the perfect route to follow. Our assigned table on the lunch cruise that blasted my face, neck and shoulder with cold air moved us to a different floor which enabled us to meet and speak with the amazing Chris. Being late for our timed entry at the Library of Congress introduced us to the two delightful sisters.
My response to my friend after each comment was, “It’s all good.” And it was. In fact, it was better than what had been planned. It was the perfect lesson in trusting the universe!
Solidarity Among Strangers
One more surprise was a sense of solidarity I felt among the people we encountered over our four days in DC.
It was unexpected to hear statements of concern about those currently in power while exploring the seat of that power. Most heartening were all the statements of hope that were shared with us. They provided an invisible band that bound us together, and that was a gift. I so appreciate being able to give and take of that hope.
I felt welcomed into a larger community of like-minded people I will most probably never see again, but I sure am happy to know they exist. I felt strength coming from them.
A sign I passed summed up much of what I feel: “Stop hating each other because you disagree.” Making room for a diversity of opinions helps us make good decisions. It’s only when some of those opinions are accompanied by judgment, derision, hate that they become toxic. That’s what divides us.
What if we choose not to divide? That just might be the most interesting conversation of all.
A Reflection
Four days exploring an abundance of beauty was just what I needed. The people, the trees, the architecture – stopping to absorb it all and then sharing the experience with others. It’s taken a few days to process it all, and I’m still not done. The conversation continues.
As someone who lived in Washington until I was 9 and then NYC until I was 17 (plus four years in my 20s), this was a great pleasure. I apologise that I am someone who too often reads, thinks that was nice and moves on. I intend try harder to give feedback but make no promises. Think of me as one of your silent admirers!
I love this so much for many reasons!
Thank you for sharing your perspective, these glorious photos, and the promise of Spring. It was lovely to listen to your voice as I read along.