November 7, 2009

• {A Photo Journey}

  
  
  ————— background
  
  D.C. is a place I’d never been – but had always wanted to… 
  
  Being married to a Canadian it’s not exactly high on the vacation destinations list.
  Not that we have one. But, well, if we did…
  it wouldn’t be!
  
  Kat is a xanga friend I’d never met – but had always wanted to…
  
  Being married to a Can.. er, uh.. my husband, he thinks it’s a little “weird” I’d want to meet total strangers..
  but with each one I do – discovering they’re actually REAL and even nicer in person –
  he’s starting to come around to the idea!
  
  So several weeks back when Kat called and invited me to come for a visit,
  I was excited and a little {no alot} blown away by her generosity to fly me out.

  
  
  But generous is a word that immediately comes to mind when I think of her~
  she has sent little gifts here and there throughout the years,
  and has pretty much solely clothed my Kate with all her hand me downs.
  
  Kate is so proud and affectionately refers to them as her “Kat collection.”
  
  So it was super fun to finally get to meet the already loved, Kat~
  
  Shayne is right in the sense that it is all rather “weird” when you really stop to think about it..
  being friends with someone…
  sharing in their life…
  feeling a sense of love for them…
  knowing where they live..
  and even what they ate for dinner last night..
  yet NEVER having met them!!!
  
  So, yeah.. I think when the opportunity comes to finally meet you wonder how it’ll go -
  will they be the same person you’ve perceived them to be?
  will it be all too awkward?
  
  with Kat~ I.just.knew.
  Knew there would be a comfortableness and sense of ease.
  She has that wonderful quality, not everyone does, to make others feel that way.
  I think it comes from being content with who you are… where you’re at in life
  When you’re okay with you, others are too.
  No fronts. No cover up’s.
  Not afraid to be transparent..
  even if that means others seeing your struggles or weaknesses.
  
  Anyway – I liked many things about her but if I had to name my favorite,that would be it.

  
  [and this is my favorite picture i took of her while there]
  
  ————— introspect
  
  
  Going away on that particular weekend seemed especially needed.
  It had been a rough week and half leading up to it
  and I felt the timing was such a God thing – like He’s so good at doing.
  
  
  ————— the trip, day one
  
  I kept feeling that morning when I left that I’d forgotten something…
  don’t ya hate that?
  
  All the way to the airport I was going over it in my mind.
  
  toothbrush – check
  socks – check
  clean underwear- check
  boarding pass – check
  
  As soon as the plane was airborne and I took my camera out to snap a few pictures I realized –
  
  memory card – no check
  
  Good thing I was going to visit a photographer…
   
  
  So I sat back, took mental pictures of the earth below quickly fading into a monopoly board,
  and the wonderful fall colors on the trees that resembled very much an old patch work quilt my grandma has on her bed..

  beautiful.
  
  
  It was pouring rain when I got into D.C.
  
  Kat and I met.
  Began talking instantly,
  non stopedly
  jumped a taxi
  and headed to her apartment.
  
  Later that night we walked a few miles…
  still pouring rain,
  got a bite for dinner.
  Tried to warm our drenched, cold feet.
  Browsed around a Michael’s store-
  Grabbed a Starbucks..
  I put my feet in mine.
  Then headed out later to see a movie.
  
  ————— the trip, day two
  
  Went into D.C. with Kat’s roommate, Katie.

  

  
  Katie is a sweetheart.
  kind. laid back. easy to be around.
  I instantly loved her. –
  Her husband is serving in Afghanistan.
   

  
  
  Without Katie, Kat and I would have probably roamed hopelessly about…
  but since she knew exactly where to go, we were able to see so much in a short amount of time.

  
  
  

  

  

  
  [this guy was doing his thang.. dancing up a storm in front of the White House. i loved his spirit]
  
  

  

  
  [a kat photo]

  
  [this little guy was in a world all his own.. ]

  
  [the Vietnam Memorial was sobering to me]

  
  [interesting you can see the reflection of the living in the wall of the dead]
  
  
  [a kat photo]
  
  

  

  

  
  

  fun in the leaves…

  
  [kat photos]
  
  the Asian goddess…

  
    
  
   
      
  ————— the trip, day three
  
  Kat and Katie were both gone to work~
  so after enjoying a nice long hot bath…
  I walked a few miles to get lunch.
  
  then headed down to Old Alexandria.

  
  
  It was a gorgeous day and I loved strolling around..
  sitting at the harbor..
  snapping pictures..
  talking to random strangers..
  
  one lady started witnessing to me.
  I listened politely until she was done –
  then smiled and told her that Jesus was indeed my Lord and Savior.
  she gave me a huge hug..
  I don’t know if it was from excitement over me being a fellow Christian,
  or simply from relief because I could tell she was so nervous talking to me.
  I smile even now thinking of it.

  
  [i liked watching this little girl feeding the pigeons]
  
  
  [i think this bird was posing!]
  
  
  

  

  
  [i found this table in one of the shops.. i'm going back one day to buy it!]

   
  [taxi ride]
  
  
  my friend Beth only lives about an hour from D.C. so she drove over that afternoon to meet up~

  

   
  
  [waiting on the curb for her to get there]

  
  [what you do while you wait.. take goofy pictures of yourself]
  
  
  we headed downtown to take in a few sights before dinner…

  

   
  [on the steps of the Capitol Building] 

  

  

  

  
  [Supreme Court steps - legally blonde?]
  
      

  
  met up with the other girls at the Old Ebbitt Grill... a cool historic eatery near the White House.
  
  another friend of Kat’s had come in that day – also who she had never met..
  neither had she met Beth yet,
  nor I Caitlyn {the other friend who’d come in}
  nor Caitlyn me, or Beth, or Katie,
  or Katie, Beth..
  or Beth, Caitlyn or Katie, or Kat…
  
  
  
  it was a good night.

  

  went to the Jefferson Memorial afterwards…

   

  
  [i liked this couple sitting here.. they looked deep in thought]

  
  [i liked what this said. wonder how it would look hanging in my house?]
  
  
  [a kat photo]

  
  
  
  
  

  go here to see our crazy impromptu dance~
  
  
  ————— the trip, day four
  
  headed back home.

  
  [the germ incubator]
  
  It was kinda funny.. I’m not a huge traveler,
  flying that is –
  
  but I tried to pack everything so I could just carry it on with me.
  all my little liquids, gels, creams, and gloss in baggies…
  
  Cincinnati is a pretty big airport – going, I went through security without a hitch.
  I was frisked.. but I think that was random.
  
  coming back, in the Reagan National Airport, which isn’t that huge..
  got called over for a bag check in security…
  had to empty out all my baggies w/ my little liquids, gels, creams, and gloss.
  
  The guy told me they all had to fit in ONE bag!!
  
  I thought the rule was everything in it’s own bag.. so yeah..
  you can imagine how many baggies of things I had.
  He told me to choose the things I wanted..
  
  So as I was – and rambling off about how I never fly,
  and that I had come through Cincy security without a problem..
  and I just was never going to fit everything I wanted to keep in one bag…
  
  The guy started stuffing things in himself.
  and by stuffing I mean stuffing..
  the bag wouldn’t close..
  things were coming out the top..
  
  He opened my purse and stuck it in.
  
  “And here.. you can take this too..” he said, handing me my 5 oz. {oops} jar of hair cream stuff.
  
  I think my talking must have made him nervous or aggravated or something..
  obviously, he was wanting to be done and over with me!
  
  Then, once I landed in Cincy I got so screwed up as to where I was going…
  my cell phone wouldn’t work.. so I couldn’t call Shayne to find out where he was…
  or where I was. {he’s my living gps}
  I ended up on the opposite side of the airport, in some other terminal~

   
  
  my family thought that was funny I spent the whole weekend in a strange, new city..
  then come home and get lost!!
  
  but hey – the airport isn’t exactly familiar stomping grounds to me.
  atleast if I was stranded there it wouldn’t be so bad though…
  those places are like malls now!!!
  
  
  ————— conclusion
  
  A wonderful weekend. complete with –
  
  a new life long friend made.
  my first taxi ride alone!
  my first Thai food eaten.
  quiet time with my thoughts & the Lord.
  backing out of 4 parking garages!
  lots of laughter.
  a little dancing.
  fun memories.
  serious talks.
  sweet times.
  tons of smiles.
  heart blessed.
  
  Thanks again Katherine~ so thoughtful. so sweet. so glad you’re in my life. love you.

  
  [my favorite thing about this picture is the ladies in the background.. maybe someday we'll go back. you be the redhead, kat!]
  
  
  
  ————— question
  
  Ever been to D.C.?
  
  what’s your favorite thing there? … and why.
  
  I’d have to say mine was the Lincoln Memorial –

   

  
  [a kat photo]
  
  standing there looking up at this larger than life, all consuming monument I couldn’t help but to wonder what he would think about it all _ thousands of people flocking to stare at an image carved in stone…
  
  I’m sure his greatness far exceeded his expectation. If he had an expectation – I think he simply lived his life. did the next thing. was concerned for the well being of others. and acted upon what he felt was right.

  
  
  
  .. I guess the idea inspires me.
  
  
  God taking ordinary people and using them to alter history and change lives~
  
  
  Kinda gives a person hope, don’t ya think. 
  
  
  
  

  
  amber.
  
  

  • 8:13 am
  • 54 Comments