Maddie and Mimi Celebrate In DC

The graduate chose Washington, DC, for her

celebratory trip.

She hadn't been there since 6th grade.

The Mimi was thrilled. 

She hadn't been there since before the graduate

was born! 

I'm getting spoiled to first class as my miles dwindle!

But here we are livin' it up!

We stayed at a hotel which was beautiful and fab

and historic:  The Willard.
My little grad loves history and "character," and
this place had plenty of both!

Aren't these lobby flowers spectacular?

(As was the lobby itself!)

We loved our room!

Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote his

"I have a dream" speech at the Willard.

The term "lobbyist" was coined here.

President Ulysses Grant would come to the lobby to 

escape and smoke a cigar in peace (no security then!) 

and people would follow him there to 

try to get his attention.

He began calling them "those damn lobbyists!"

This area of the hotel was named "Peacock Alley"
 because the ladies' hats, adorned with feathers,

would brush together as they mingled!

Our hotel was only a short distance from
the White House.
Right in the center is one of the guard houses
 from our window.
Actually, it is the one where the press enters.

Sadly, this is as close as we could get now.

We took a night tour of the monuments...

The Washington

The Jefferson

The Lincoln

Afterward, room service $$$--I mean !!!

We split a sandwich but both got desserts!



Speaking of desserts, we bussed to Georgetown,
and found the famous Georgetown Cupcakes!
(And we might have gotten 2 each.)

We then walked to Georgetown University.

Maddie toured.  Mimi wimped out.  But this was
the prettiest part, she said,
and I did get to see it!


That night we ate here by my request.
While Susan was a flight attendant, and before Maddie 
was born, our whole extended family flew to
Washington (where she was based) on 
Thanksgiving Day and had lunch here.
I have the t-shirt to prove it!
It ended up being only a couple of blocks from our hotel.

                            

Walking "home"

A full moon over Washington.

The Capitol lower left.

And we toured the Capitol.

We toured the Washington National Cathedral...

after a wonderful breakfast at their coffee shop,
called "Open City."

The grad wished to visit the Newseum, 
which "promotes, explains and defends free
expression and the five freedoms of the
First Amendment."


The gran only got two pictures--not good--
But memorable ones...

 Front pages from dozens of national newspapers are
displayed all across the front of the building.
At least we'll remember when we were there!


Cruisin' Mimi just couldn't resist a dinner cruise.  
(I forgot to take an exterior photo.)
The boat is called Odyssey.

We cruised for 3 hours on the Potomac.
Maddie was such a good sport--
probably the only 22 year old on the cruise!

Live Music!

Along with all the birthdays and anniversaries,
Maddie was recognized and brought out to
the dance floor to be honored for her graduation!!!
This is how she felt about that...

But she got lots of congratulations and some
Hook 'Em Horns on the way off the boat!



Our last adventure was a spectacular one.

We went to the Kennedy Center to see 
Phantom of the Opera!

And afterward...a late dinner at The Hamilton.

(Texting her fellow Hamilton-obsessed friends about the 
Aaron Burr-ger on the menu!)


I could go on and on about this marvelous girl.
But then I've already gone on and on about our trip!
What a privilege to get to take her on a
 celebration of her great accomplishment.
"Thank you, Gaga.  Wish you'd been here to  
share the trip with us."
But mostly, "Thank you, God.  
For blessing us beyond what we could ever deserve."