Free Ride

Metro's recent fare hikes haven't discouraged some passengers from their daily commute. This little fellow made quite a scene the other day on my return trip from the DMV office located on M Street SW. Several squealing, giggly girls piled out of the car as I stepped in, and there he was:  flying back and forth near the top of the car. Clearly, he was ignoring the signs prominently displayed in each Metro rail car:

Or was he? Perhaps he is a frequent Green Line traveler.

Freedom

It's been six and a half weeks since the move. Unpacking, setting up, organizing. Trying to get a sense of how to live and be in this new place. There's no denying that it's a beautiful apartment. But I still don't quite know what I'm doing here. If you've seen images of my old living room, you'll recognize several old friends here and here. I have to admit that everything works better in this space. It's open and inviting. 

Today I pulled out the seashells. I've grown accustomed to displaying them in the summer months. So why not keep up the tradition? 

Late afternoon storms darkened the sky and brought much-needed relief from the heat. Then the clouds cleared, bringing oblique rays of summer sun to the living and dining rooms.

Had fun arranging the shells. Decided they should appear organized as a collector might display them on a board or in a cabinet drawer. 

At 7:00 this evening, the sun moved into a particularly felicitous angle, and the daisies caught fire. 

I loved having the mid-week holiday break. Original plans were scrapped due to concerns about the weather forecast. Turns out we didn't have rain after all, but so what? When you have the opportunity to spend a wonderful summer afternoon with your wonderful daughter, it doesn't much matter what you end up doing. These sailors, at the corner of Wisconsin and M in Georgetown, seemed to be enjoying their version of the Fourth. They looked particularly crisp, even in the oppressive heat.

"Let's go to J. Paul's for a bite to eat. We'll have a toast to Wendy." I texted Wendy to let her know we were there. She was delighted to hear it. A couple glasses of wine and the crabcake appetizer for each of us. Perfect lunch, perfect company, perfect afternoon. The silly July 4 beach theme, complete with sand, chairs, umbrellas, "and a DJ," according to the sign above the bar, somehow just worked and brought a big smile to my face.

Claire loved it too. 

"Happy Independence Day, Mommy," she said to me on the phone that morning. Indeed. Thanks, Sweetheart.


The first week of July 2012 has drawn to a close.