We just got back from visiting our daughter, son-in-law, and four year old granddaughter in the Washington, DC area. We had a great time! We’ve been fortunate to be able to use our Portal to “see and hear” them each week, but I have to say, there’s nothing like holding our granddaughter. My husband and I wish we could bottle that feeling!
We lived in the DC area years ago when my husband was in the Air Force. What a great area to live in. Now we’re “re”-enjoying Fall festivals, the Baltimore Aquarium, the Smithsonian, the parks all over the place, etc. with our granddaughter. It’s like having a déjà vu experience… sort of a bittersweet sensation — experiencing all of these fun activities with one of our children whom we visited these spots with when she was a four years old, as well as her own daughter who is now the same age!
We’re lucky to have our son who lives fifteen minutes away from our home in San Antonio. He’s so good about taking care of our eight year old “puppy” while we’re gone.
So, it’s good to be home – even though we miss our DC family!
Debby says
What a beautiful uplifting story! So glad to read of remarkable experiences like yours. A trip to cherish. Thanks for sharing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Debby, thank you for the kind words. It’s difficult for my husband and I to live so far from this part of our family… Thanks, again!
Georgeann says
I am so glad you had the opportunity to travel.
your travels flooded me with memories. We lived for years in Baltimore and watched the aquarium come to fruition. We had a family pass for years and used it to see a portion at a when the children were little.
My in-laws lived in D.C. The access to the museums filled us with purpose as we visited them on weekends.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Georgeann, since my husband was in the Air Force, we were able to buy a military family pass to the Baltimore Aquarium when we live in the DC area. Our daughter is very fortunate to live in the DC (sort of Baltimore) area. It sounds like you, too, enjoyed all of the wonderful places there are in the area to explore with your little ones.
Ellen Byron says
How wonderful to experience all the DC has to offer through your granddaughter!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ellen, it has been a real treat to get out there and “déjà vu” with my daughter and granddaughter. I’m guessing that my daughter may be getting tired of my “Oh, I remember when you and your brother……” stories!
Rob Jarrad says
Dear Danna: So glad that you and hubby got to see your daughter, son-in-law and grandgirl. My parents had to commute to Vermont from Texas to see granddaughter born in 1990 and then grandson in ’94’ so
I get the commute thing. I am the one that worked and stayed with their dog. A red male Daschound named “Thor”. But I’m glad that I was able to do that so they could go up there. As you’ve said, it is a
deja-vou feeling to visit with kids and then grandkids. My dad got to coach little league for my brother and helped my brother coach his son and neighbor boys so he could relate.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Rob, your dad was so lucky to be able to pass along his coaching skills with your brother. What fun that must have been for both of them! Oh, Vermont during the peak fall season! What beauty! Texas is a distance to almost every state… We used to go up to Colorado Springs to visit my family – and it took us over a day to get to New Mexico. At least we’re flying to DC.
Gayle McMurria-Bachik says
Lovely…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Gayle, it was lovely! I’m already looking forward to our next get-together.
PamB says
I can just imagine your joy with a granddaughter’s hand in yours as you visited favorite places. Precious memories for all!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PamB, you are so right! (The people who live across the street from me have the daughter and granddaughter who live with them. I keep telling them how lucky they are…)
Mrs. Ainee C. Beland says
Hello, I did not know you were away; Glad that you are returning. I visited D.C. when I was younger with my siblings to visit my dad’s sister who resided in the D.C. brownstone neighborhood but I am unsure if not most of D.C. is brownstone and the streets are numbered and they have no ice cream shop what I remember of D.C.; the Smithsonian Museum had large skeletal dinosaur and large model cars; this was fun to visit.
I /we did not stay in touch with this sister who did not like us; so we’ve not returned since that visit. Sorry if this does not mesh with your crowd of grands/grandkids etc. Different are my trials as I am the last of my kind, I am happy to say; the world never wanted this type as there are probably more but they know how to be normal/hide from the masses.
I am me whatever that might be. Have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mrs. Ainee, the Smithsonian has changed a lot since we lived in the DC area.
OR
, maybe our granddaughter has different tastes in her viewing than our two children had. My daughter knew exactly where to start our spectator journey there, as did we when our children were little… dinosaurs vs. insects…
I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving, also. Ours isn’t very “traditional” anymore. I plan on serving rotisserie chicken rather than hassle with a big turkey…
Nancy says
I’m glad you had a wonderful time with your family. Family matters the most.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, it’s definitely great to be able to spend some quality time with our daughter and her family.
Mimi Nugent says
Sounds like a wonderful trip! I, too, spent 20 years in the Washington DC and reading about your trip brought back great memories! Hope you and your family enjoy happy holidays!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
It was definitely a great trip! We’re always looking forward to our next visit with family, either visiting them in DC or them coming out to see us here in San Antonio. I hope you have a happy holiday as well!