The Season and the Shutdown

Since Monday it has been raining. We needed it, but enough is enough. Luckily we don't have to be anywhere or do anything, so it hardly matters. As we headed out to our usual Saturday lunch in McLean, we passed by some interesting sights representing the season and the shutdown: the birds traveling in unison above the freeway bridge, the gate still closed and streets barricaded at Roosevelt Island, the walkers on Key Bridge heading towards Georgetown, the swollen and muddy Potomac River, protesters at the CIA headquarters, a single lone bird flying overhead, the first red leaf hints of Autumn, a peaceful scenic view of the George Washington Parkway, Georgetown University in the distance, a diversion to Whitehurst Freeway due to a police diversion on the Parkway, a lone runner on the Lincoln Memorial steps, bikers crossing over the barricades at the Martin Luther King Memorial, and - best of all - a glimpse of the sun. Our friend is heading to Alaska today for a visit and rain is expected there all week. We were happy to drop her off at the airport, and just as glad we weren't going.