The Mystery Lady at the Smithsonian Gardens

We have a habit of walking every day - except on Saturday. My husband prefers the morning. I would rather walk at dusk. Saturday is reserved for breakfast at our favorite place - McLean Family Restaurant. After that we always go grocery shopping. We always went out for breakfast in the Midwest when we lived there. Our daily walk usually takes us along the National Mall up to the Smithsonian Castle where there are gardens all around it, the Hirshhorn, Sackler and Freer galleries. What we noticed of late is that an older woman, who dresses to the nines, is typically seen somewhere in the castle gardens reading her newspaper. In fact it’s become so routine that we miss her when she is not there. It doesn’t matter what it’s like outside - except when it’s raining. Just last week she was sprawled out on a bench with her most impressive winter outfit reading the newspaper. She usually finds the sunniest spot. We don’t know anything about her except she just started appearing there several months ago and now it’s been a few seasons. Maybe one of these days there will be a reason to talk. But until that happens she will forever be our mystery lady.