I almost trod on this handsome gopher snake at the dog park. It was lying quite still when I first saw it. As soon as I got out the phone to take a picture, it started to glide away. It was only a foot or two away from its den, so I was just able to photograph it as it slithered into its hole. I estimate that it was 2 1/2 to 3 feet long.
Olof at Lou Taubert’s buying his first pair of jeans
We spent a few days in Washington, D.C. And saw many sites and sights including the Capitol, Air and Space Museum, Native American Museum, National Gallery.
Olof thought a night time bus tour of the monuments would be fun!!!
Luckily the weather cleared. I think I see Barack waving and saying, “Hello, Olof from Sweden”.
The Pentagon Memorial was so beautifully designed.
It’s a deceptively simple design. There is no distinction between passengers and Pentagon employees. The names are listed alphabetically, the benches are arranged by birthdate of the individuals, with the youngest at one end and the oldest at the other. Each bench has the name of a victim on the end and a small flowing water feature below. The only difference between those on the plane and those on the ground is that in reading the names of the former you are looking toward the sky and in reading the names of the latter you are looking at the Pentagon.
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In NYC we visited the Intrepid, an aircraft carrier. In addition to being amazed at the ability of the pilots to take off and land from such a (relatively) short airstrip on the ship, we had a good time looking at the variety of helicopters and radar planes.
The Intrepid from the Hudson River harbor cruise.
Betsy actually went to the observation deck on the Empire State Building and took this picture.
After several days with Merry and one of her sons and her two daughters and sons-in-law, we boarded Amtrak for Washington, D.C.
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Can’t tell who looks more confused. Frank and Bev are trying to figure out why I’m pointing my “computer” at them.
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Looks like a foreign correspondent?
Olof thought a roof top bus tour would be perfect!
And since we finally dried off, we are ready to board at Reagan National. On to the Cape! Sent from my iPad
Visited the Pentagon Memorial this afternoon.
Each bench represents a person either on the plane or on the ground, killed when the plane hit. What is wonderful about the design is that there is no separation between civilian and military. The benches are positioned such that you read passenger names looking toward where the plane came from and the Pentagon employees names looking toward where the plane hit, but they are positioned by age only. The youngest at one end and the oldest at the other.
The names of the individuals are on the side of the benches and there is a small circulating pool of water under each. Very moving visit.
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Cousin Olof was brave enough or innocent enough to plan his first trip to the US and to place himself in the tender mercies of Betsy as his tour guide.
First stop a Hudson River cruise.
With Fika, of course.
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Dragonfly Ranch 