4th of July

Yesterday we went into D.C. around 2:00 to wait for the fireworks show. It was quite the spectacle. They had a "folklife festival" going on at the mall between all the Smithsonian museums. The most memorable part of that for me was the Omani exhibit. The country of Oman is right at the tip of Saudi Arabia. They had exhibits about Omani life, customs, etc. We watched a group of women paint henna on some volunteers. The henna looks like a thick chocolate, and yet they use it to paint intricate designs on hands, feet, etc. It was really interesting to watch.

The heat was so bad that we couldn't walk around the festival for long. We settled into a spot near the big stage and the Washington Monument. We were in a complete absence of shade. I felt like I was slowly melting. We did several things to amuse ourselves over the vast amount of time that followed: played frisbee, Euchre, napped, and mostly listened to the varying Navy Bands. They had a country band, rock band, show choirs, brass band... we heard snippets of the musical Grease, West Side Story, and danced to Van Halen's "Jump"! You've never really heard Van Halen until you've seen it sang by a large man in a blazingly white Navy uniform!

Finally hungry, we trekked (for about the fourth time) through security to get to the roadside stands. Nate and I grudgingly forked over $3 for the most disgusting beef hotdogs I have ever eaten. I won't go into detail, but I think it will be a while before I can stomach another hotdog.

AND THEN!!!! FIREWORKS!!!! Wow, was I ever amazed. Just imagine the largest, most dazzling fireworks you've ever seen, crackling over the Lincoln Memorial... sparks coming down over the reflecting pool. It was beautiful. I've never seen any show to match it. Granted, I am from Central Illinois, but I have seen a Chicago fireworks show, and it didn't compare. You can't really beat sitting in your Nation's capital on Independence Day.

The finale was so loud you could hardly hear the band playing the patriotic songs. It seemed to go on forever, and finally ended with the strain of the last song... big beautiful fireworks that looked like waterfalls. I didn't want it to end.

Now I'm at work, and a bit tired from a late night. But it was worth it. I think living in DC even for a short time was made worth it by that little touch of beauty last night.