From Turkeys to Opera, A Trip to Lynchburg, Virginia

Since our son and his family left DC for Lynchburg six months ago, we decided it was time to take a road trip this weekend. Our dear friends from Milwaukee came in to town yesterday, so we planned to take an overnight jaunt together. On the way we saw a truck full of turkeys - feathers flying - on their way to several Thanksgiving feasts. We reached Skyline Drive and headed in to the Shenandoah Valley. The scenery is gorgeous this time of year. It was almost a four hour drive when we found our hotel on Main Street, just a couple blocks from where they live. The biggest event was to see the 1890's warehouse that they are planning to turn in to their residential space on the third floor, overlooking the James River. The renovation is about to begin and we're anxious to see the end result - in about a year. In the mean time, the first floor houses a wedding venue and there's a lot of other space that will become available in this multi functional building. Obviously things are so very different here than in DC. After tomorrow I'll be able to make a thoughtful impression. In the meantime it is quite an experience. 

Opera in the Outfield - Mozart's The Magic Flute

Our friend asked us last week if we might want to join her and a few others to see The Magic Flute. It was to be simulcast at the Nationals Stadium from Kennedy Center. When we first moved here, we saw an opera simulcast near the Washington Monument. Our first inclination was not to go because neither one of us likes opera that much. If it was raining it would definitely be ruled out.  When she asked us yesterday if we were definitely coming, we agreed. Since we had not gotten our usual walk in, it was a good excuse to walk over and back since the stadium is only a few blocks away. The outfield space was already occupied, so we went ahead to the first level along the third baseline with a good view of the scoreboard/screen in center field.  Of course we needed to have the usual trashy hot dog and chicken fingers with French fries. By the time we got back waiting in line we had missed the rainstorm that lasted long enough to wet the seats. Luckily we brought along the plastic chair covers from the patio so all was well. For a free event you really couldn't ask for a better evening affair. The sound was amazing for being outdoors. It felt like we were actually in the opera house when the lights went out in the second act. I found myself looking around more than paying attention, and noticed the flickering smart phone and gadget lights in the field. Two interesting tidbits from the evening: one of the friends of our friend was born in the hospital that I worked in Milwaukee...what are the odds? And at that same hospital I worked with the sister of Tom Hulce - the guy who played Amadeus in the movie. Would we go back again? I'm not sure, but it was a really nice evening.