A Last Ride In To Town for A While

We’ve been through a few government shutdowns. The Smithsonian museums closed and the streets were empty. Needless to say, it looks the same now - but worse. We moved to northern Virginia from Capitol Hill almost a year ago. So we thought we would take a drive to town to see the cherry blossoms this week. Because we are in the at risk age group, we have been staying closer and closer to home. I don’t even feel like taking a walk outside anymore. In normal times, spring is probably the busiest in DC - especially around the Tidal Basin. Before we spent time there we drove around our old neighborhood. It looked very sad. There was barely any traffic on the avenues, and all the restaurants and bars were closed. A few people were walking about. On the way home I thought it might be wise to just hang around our new neighborhood until things blow over sooner or later. There’s no point in taking unnecessary risks for anyone. And I’m not a risk taker anyway but it’s hard to convince my husband to stay put. 

Empty Streets on Sunday in August

Sunday morning is usually very quiet in town. But if you add the month of August in to the mix it is more than quiet. As usual we took our morning walk. When it is too hot to take the national mall route, we prefer the air conditioned union station. I like the national mall scenery much more - especially the gardens around all the Smithsonian buildings. Today just seemed eerily silent... past the Supreme Court and Capitol, the senate office buildings, through the park down to Massachusetts Avenue in front of Union Station. Inside the station was the same. Most of the retail shops and restaurants weren't open yet, and the lines boarding the trains were not snaking all across the terminal. Pennsylvania Avenue looked odd too, and the closer we got back to our neighborhood, there wasn't a vehicle in sight. Things change dramatically when Monday rolls around, and the congestion and lack of street parking gets to be quite annoying. So we should enjoy the silence. But since I am not a person of extremes, I much prefer the same pace every day. I don't think that will ever happen in this city.