Today we walked a looooooooooooooooong time.We started the day fairly early as we had 9:00 a.m. tour at the National Cathedral. It was a 45 minute "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" experience to get there...but...it was worth it. The huge, gothic structure on the top of the hill was massive, impressive and awe inspiring. Is is, for those of you who don't know, the 6th largest Cathedral in the World and the second in the United States. We were also extremely grateful to Jeanette for getting us a Congressional tour. Fewer people meant getting up closer to the guide and information, and seeing 
things that aren't included on the normal tour.
things that aren't included on the normal tour.The guide, an older gentleman who walked with a cane, led us through some interesting stories about the architecture of the gothic style, its four basic elements and why things were built the way they are. His speech kept the attention of even our boys -- which is an amazing feat indeed.
The windows in this church are stunning -- Sam loved the airforce window with its depiction of flight and a replica of the Airforce Chapel in Colorado. Isaac liked the moon window - a modern looking depiction of the Neil Armstrong moon landing with an actual moon rock positioned in the center of the moon in the window. Mom enjoyed the creation rose above the Nave -- a chaotic mixture of red, blue, and orange stained glass framing a single piece of white glass in the center. Dad liked the slightly more traditional style of the windows in the Bethlehem Chapel in the basement which were made overseas in England and shipped here to install. He also really liked the pulpit which was engraved in England and given to the National Church by the mother church in England. I think my husband is turning into an Anglophile.
We paid our respects to several folks buried in the church. The first was Woodrow Wilson -- designated the father of peace and the only President to be buried in the Cathedral. 
Second was the first Bishop who is buried behind the alter of the Bethlehem Chapel -- apparently tradition dictates that the first bishop is to be buried behind the first alter in the church. To this man, I must give a respectful nod. It was his decision not to borrow money while building the church. So, they only built when they had money to build. Consequently, the church's construction took from 1907 to the time it was completed and consecrated in 1990 -- a total of 83 years. The $65 million dollar purchase price was accomplished completely through private donations and debt free. We can all learn from this example.
Second was the first Bishop who is buried behind the alter of the Bethlehem Chapel -- apparently tradition dictates that the first bishop is to be buried behind the first alter in the church. To this man, I must give a respectful nod. It was his decision not to borrow money while building the church. So, they only built when they had money to build. Consequently, the church's construction took from 1907 to the time it was completed and consecrated in 1990 -- a total of 83 years. The $65 million dollar purchase price was accomplished completely through private donations and debt free. We can all learn from this example.The cool thing about the church taking this long is that there is a lot of recent popular culture built into the structure. One of the best is that one of the grotesques on the outside of the chapel is the helmet of Darth Vader. (A grotesque is the larger, more inclusive class of items that 
count gargoyles amoung their membership. The only difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque is the presence of a downspout in a gargoyle. Both, however, serve the purpose of keeping rain water away from the building.) We, OF COURSE, asked about this particular feature and were promptly walked to the viewing point by one of the younger (man in his 50s) chapel guides. Proof that the church does have a sense of humor.
count gargoyles amoung their membership. The only difference between a gargoyle and a grotesque is the presence of a downspout in a gargoyle. Both, however, serve the purpose of keeping rain water away from the building.) We, OF COURSE, asked about this particular feature and were promptly walked to the viewing point by one of the younger (man in his 50s) chapel guides. Proof that the church does have a sense of humor.In one of the basement chapels, we learned that the cremated remains of both Helen Keller and her tutor Anne Sullivan were held. At this point in the tour, one of the teenagers in the crowd asked about what looked like trapped doors in the floor of the chapel and the floor of other chapels we had seen. The guide then explained that this is where p
eople buried in caskets are laid to rest. Eyes wide, Isaac perked up at about this point, "You mean we've been walking on dead people down here?" At least I know he was listening.
eople buried in caskets are laid to rest. Eyes wide, Isaac perked up at about this point, "You mean we've been walking on dead people down here?" At least I know he was listening.The church is beautiful and definately worth the pain in getting there. We picked up our family Christmas ornament in the gift shop and wandered through the Bishop garden and Olmstead Woods hiking trail on the church property to get back. On the trail we encountered a large sprinkler blocking our way which took some problem solving and feats of bravery to pass. Our antics (which were thankfully covered by a thick stand of old growth trees) reminded me of the timing and finesse required by the reality show "Wipe Out." We had some fun in the forest -- hopefully there weren't cameras.
After the Cathedral, we went to the International Spy Museum. From the moment we arrived, we were enveloped into DC spy culture. The motto of this museum is "things are never as they seem." You begin your tour by riding an elevator to a room where you acquire a secret identity and "legend" (facts about your person) that you are given 5 minutes to commit to memory. Then, you are encouraged to "live your cover" throughout the museum where you are periodically questioned by electronic guards 
to see how well you can avoid detection and complete your mission.
to see how well you can avoid detection and complete your mission.I was Carol Liu, a 42 year old architect from Santa Monica, California. I was in Volgogard, Russia to visit a museum where my orders were to meet Oksana (something) who was working as a museum information desk. She would deliver to me a visitor's guide that contained a series of microdots (tiny pictures containing important information) that I was to bring back to the United States and deliver to my employers. Even though my mission was successful, I did forget one piece of information and aroused a bit of suspicion from the border guard. I was recommended for further training.
The exhibits in this museum were fun to look at. We squandered 3 hours away just looking at everything. Though they will never admit it publicly, this one thoroughly entertained the boys. So much so that Ross and I were able to slowly meander through the museum and actually read something about the history of spying, and about how spies and misinformation were used during both World Wars as well as the Cold War.
The gift store, as you can imagine, was full of interesting items and books. A full line of James Bond paraphernailia was located within and the best news was -- all of it is available for shipping directly to your home from online. Christmas gifts anyone?
It was here, that Isaac made a decision which would prove to be fateful later in our journey. He found a cool comb dressed up to look just like a switchblade. He stared at it for all of 5 minutes before deciding he just had to have it. Ross' eyebrows immediately went to the ceiling. Catching the cue, I walked up to Isaac who was standing in the checkout line. "Before you lay down $10 on that comb," I whispered low into his ear, "you might want to think about whether or not you can g
et that through airport security."
et that through airport security." It is a widely recognized fact that most boys do not listen to reason when it comes between them and something they would really like to have. It is also a family rule that the boys are allowed to purchase whatever they desire (within reason) using their designated souvenier cash. Isaac was not interested in listening to options for purchase that would involve lengthy timeframes between him and the use of that comb. So, despite the nonverbal and verbal warnings, he bought it. Stay tuned.
After this we breezed through the National Portrait Gallery exhibit of American Presidents across the street and headed for dinner at the food court of the Reagan Building. We hit this place right on time and were finishing up just as some junior high on a field trip entered the area. Disaster narrowly averted!
Following dinner we walked down to the Mall and meandered through the Jefferson and Franklin Delanor Roosevelt memorials. We also stopped to look at the nearly complete Martin Luther King memorial to be dedicated in August. After that, we headed home and fell -- literally -- into bed. A good, but full day.
