Just returned from a long weekend trip to The Big City. Three daughters live in the Northern Virginia and D.C. area. Some Big City observations.

Did not plan well. Hit 395 about 5 PM. Traffic! After cruising along in the Grand Marquis for about four hours, crawling through the last few miles is not a pleasant event. The Car Guys called the Grand Marquis a Barcolounger on wheels – and they are right – but sitting in traffic in a padded leather upholstered easy chair with good music on the great speaker system with the one you love beside you is still not a fun thing to do. And being fifteen years old with 250K miles on her, the old girl (that is the Grand Marquis, of course) did not like it either. She talks to me and I talk to her all the time. She and I would both go bonkers if we had to do that twice a day every day.

One of our daughters and her intended met us in D.C. for a burger. In the Turkish Tent Room at Mie N Yu. Mie N Yu also has a Hong Kong Bar, Moroccan Bazaar, Bird Cage, etc. A good burger, buffalo meat and blue cheese. But $12! Who ever heard of a $12 burger? In a restaurant called Mie N Yu? With a Turkish Tent Room? And putting the car in a lot for $12 parking fee.? The local Diner has a great burger – plain beef and cheddar cheese but still a great burger – for $3 and free parking next to the pickemups out to the front. A great bunch of folks and only one counter and eight booths. But, having a meal with your delightful daughter – priceless.

Walked down to Chinatown to see a movie. The streets were packed, could hardly move. There was a game about to start, also, and everyone was in a hurry to get there. There is only one day a year when the streets here are busy and that is the annual town yard sale. Even then, they are not packed and no one is in a rush. Walking packed Chinatown streets is still an interesting experience. Am a people watcher and the variety and the interactions of stressed Big City people is better than a trip to the zoo. Fascinating – once in a while. The movie, “Leatherheads”, was so-so. Walking Chinatown streets was much better.

Took a cab back afterwards and that was another Big City experience. Talk about high stress! Any slow or stopped car was something to zoom around even if it meant going on the wrong side of the street and a LOT of horn honking. Parking lot attendants trying to get cars out of the lot, pedestrians hurrying across to beat the light should have had targets painted on their coats. Just knew that it was the last few seconds of our lives. We did get back, however, safely and $15 out of the pocket. Glad I am not a cabbie.

Shopping in The Big City is better. And going to the movies. Needed a good suit for an upcoming wedding and found one very pleased with. Certainly not cheap but reasonable. Got to see “Miss Pettigrew” (recommend that one) in a nice theatre, the Shirlington. And a trip to Costco. Things just not available around here. We have a Peebles store and The Idle Hour Theatre. Not the same.

The Big City was fun but it surely is nice to be home.