WOW!!! Has it been 30-years since we were Congressional Pages? It feels like yesterday. The year living in the dorm, away from home for the first time, Working on Capitol Hill. Feeling like a big-shot with big teenage ideas. It was such an important and formative year in my life. The friendships and bonds are powerful. Through the years, we have remained close ... and distant, but always there. Bonds have grown because of the shared experiences. People I knew as teenagers, I have grown to love and respect as adults. Acquaintances have become friends. So, every 5ish years, a core group (so grateful to them) organizes a weekend reunion. I have made it to most, but not all. The people who come from one time to the next change. I couldn't miss 30-years, and the weekend was Cherry Blossom Festival.
The Musician and I arrived on my birthday. A few people were arriving Thursday, so we decided on a small dinner for folks who were in town. We settled into the hotel and I put on make-up ... shocker. Now, I always cringe walking into the Capitol Hill Hyatt. It brings back memories of New Year's Eve and the $50 tip we had to leave the housekeeper. I will say no more about it.
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CurlyKate was stuck in traffic, but we met with Phil and Marna and Susan and Kristina (who traveled from Switzerland) and walked to NoPa for dinner. We walked past the homeless shelter where I volunteered in College. It hasn't changed. CurlyKate made it to dnner and join us in our special private room. Senator Warner cancelled so we got the private room for the evening. Here is the teenage angst. As we were walking, we began talking about how our bodies have changed, and how self-conscious we are about it. Hello!?!?!? I PUT ON MAKE-UP!!!! I NEVER WEAR MAKE-UP!!! Yes, the most self-confident girl (not me) in the class was worried about how she thought she looked. I guess we were all self-conscious back then and we looked at everyone else and thought they had it all together. All of our teenage anxieties are back ... even though we are all mature, friendly, adults who adore each other.
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| Yep. That's me. And Yep. I shared it. Don't laugh too hard. |
Alison arranged a Capitol Tour through her Senator's office on Friday. A huge group of us met and we were divided into two smaller groups. We rode the tunnel train to the main building. Now, we used to run the tunnels and ride the trains all the time, but since 9/11 they are not as open to tourists (gasp, I am one of "them" now) as they used to be. We were confused a bit in the Capitol as there have been so many renovations and excavations in the past 30-years to include the massive visitor's center that used to be a parking lot. The tour was interesting. I always enjoy a tour because I learn fun new things. But, such nostalgia. We knew secret passageways and where doorways led that our guide didn't. Hallways that used to be our domain were blocked off. There are no more House Pages and we didn't have access to the actual House or Senate Galleries or floor. Those teenage days of feeling super important are past.
The Musician headed back to the room and most of the Pages headed to the Newseum. I haven't ever seen the Cherry Blossoms in bloom like they were this year. They were fantastic. I took advantage of being downtown and went for a run. In all the years I've lived in the area, I have never run the Mall and Monuments. 6 miles. Slow for a lot of reasons. Thousands of tourists. So much to see and soak in and remember and feel ... Along the Tidal Basin I stopped to offer pictures to just about anyone who was trying to take a selfie. Much better pictures when someone else takes it for you.
First official dinner at Carmine's. Family style Italian dining. I'm awfully glad the company was great because the meal and service was not. The organizers had confirmed that they would accomodate vegan dining options and that all we needed to do was to order from the menu. That's not what happened. Table had Ceasar salad and we were served a really nice mixed green salad ... the rest of the table liked it better than the Ceasar. Appetizers were served, but nothing if you didn't eat meat. We asked and were denied. Pasta was served. Two lovely options for the meat eaters ... bland penne with tomato sauce for us. Then the main course ... fish or chicken. We inquired about vegetables and were told that even the vegetables were cooked in chicken broth and they couldn't do anything different. Besides, the manager said that wasn't part of the contract. After some argument, we were brought a plate of plain steamed broccoli. Dessert was lovely Cannoli and Tiramisu.They did bring us a plate of fruit. Soooo .... it was a little disappointing to be made to feel disenfranchised because I don't eat dead animals or animal excretions. Yes, I'm on a high-horse. It wasn't the fault of the organizers and they were clearly upset. But, I wouldn't recommend Carmine's to anyone who wants anything out of the ordinary. Service was very non-accomodating. Pretty disappointing for $60 per person to not have even a fraction of the options as others. OK ... stop complaining. The conversations were wonderful. Learning about my friends and where they are and what they are doing is inspiring. Stories of strength and courage and compassion and adventure. Really really really amazing people. Every last one of them. I feel pretty boring around these folks. |
| No ... this was not an option. Neither was grilled eggplant ... even though they had it on the menu |
Saturday morning, I met Barb and Suzanne for breakfast. It was so amazing to catch up with them. It's like no time has passed. Amazing women that ... again ... make me feel insecure. They have accomplished so much and done amazing things and led amazing lives. Thank goodness they are warm and kind and not caught up with themselves. Then, lunch at our old haunt Bullfeathers. It doesn't feel any different than it did 30 years ago. The sad part though, our old dorm is now a parking lot and trailers. It was gone last time, too, but it's still hard to see. So many memories there.
After lunch, I met Steph, an INKnBURN Ambassador for coffee at Union Station. She is freaking amazing awesome strong beautiful!!! I would love to move back to DC. She would be so much fun to hang with. She loves her dog, who is very cool. She knows all kinds of fitness people and where I could take silks classes again. We walked back to the hotel and she headed out to see the Cherry Blossoms. Then I met up with Becca...another INKnBURN Ambassador. She is totally badass and cool and hilariously funny. Speaking INKnBURN, what an amazing family I have joined becoming an ambassador. I traveled the whole trip in INKnBURN. The pants look like jeans. And they travel so well, comfortable, and wrinkle free. But, I will admit, wearing yoga pants all the time did make me feel like a middle-aged "Real Housewife." Is that bad? Or good?
So ... several cups of coffee into the day and it was time for final dinner. This was catered in the hotel, so late nights were OK ... or not, if you had an early flight like us. Different folks came in from around the city and along the coast. Old yearbooks came out. Stories were told. Plans were made. It was hard to say good-night. We missed the people who couldn't make it this year and hope to see you next time.
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| Pages from Class of 1985 |
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| And their families |
I'm just sharing these pics because the flowers were really beautiful and I wanted to prove that The Musician really did travel with me.
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