On The Road to our Last Day in DC
/Doesn't it seem like the minute you get to know your way around a new city, it's time to go home?! Now that we'd figured out the transit system in D.C., Sara and I decided to spend our final day doing a little more sightseeing.
I let Sara choose. Her pick was the Holocaust Museum - quite an appropriate choice during this historic week. I've always felt the Jewish and African American cultures shared a lot in their quest to overcome persecution and prejudice, and their efforts to gain equality.
It was a very difficult exhibit to see, yet something I felt made me stronger for having viewed it. As the hour approached for us to head back to Chicago, I spent time reflecting on my experience over the past several days. How fortunate am I to be able to take a once-in-a-lifetime trip like this, with my daughter none the less. Even though it was just the 2 of us, I felt like those closest to me were right by my side. I get my sense of adventure from my father, my sense of practicality from my mom. I get my sense of compassion from my sister, my sense of grounding from my husband. I get my sense of awe from my daughter. I have been able to meet new friends from all walks of life. Mary Jo is also a breast cancer survivor, living every day to the fullest.
Our last evening on the train ride home consisted of lively conversation, initiated by Sara interviewing our Aldermen travel companions as she worked on a Girl Scout law badge. The topics quickly turned to our new President and our hope and confidence that in time, President Obama will be able to turn the economy around, fix our broken health care system, improve our education system and reduce global warming. Yes, we have lofty goals for our President, but that's why nearly 2-million people came to our country's capitol. We are proud to be American citizens - we believe.