Spontaneous melt-down

Who goes on a three day trip five hours away, and spontaneously decides to go another ten hours farther?

That'd be me.

On the way to our scary, scary cabin in the middle of nowhere, I asked Shawn if he might like to go say goodbye to his sister, who is going to Iraq for six months.

She lives in the Washington D.C. area.

So we did.

On Friday, Shawn and I rode the train into the city on a scouting mission, to see where all we would like to take the kids when we go back with them. It was a beautiful day, with blue skies, and only a few clouds. The cherry trees were just coming into bloom.

We only had a few hours. Not nearly enough time to do much of anything but look around. Got some pictures of the capital, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the White House.

But I was a mess. It was rediculous, really. I felt bad because we had come to such a special place without the kids. I knew they wanted to see it all with us, and I was a basket case, because I didn't want to enjoy it before we could do it together. It felt like I was stealing from them. I was literally standing in the middle of the Smithsonian Mall, crippled with indecision. I wanted so badly to see the Museum of Natural History, but I couldn't make myself walk through the doors without the kids.

So I called Chris bawling.

She reminded me that I am a person, who has every right to enjoy the place on my own, and not feel guilty. She was right, and it snapped me out of my melt-down.

But I still wanted to save that museum for the family. I didn't even go see the Declaration of Independence. There is something so powerful about seeing something very special for the first time. And I wanted to share that moment with them.

So Shawn and I went to the Museum of Air and Space. It was really interesting, and Shawn was impressed with my knowledge of some significant pieces.

We will go back one day, but we will take the children with us. And then we will see the things Shawn and I missed. We will experience the awe and wonder of the significance of the historical pieces. We will feel the power.

Together.