Since we spent much of yesterday afternoon viewing classic works at the National Gallery, it only made sense to wrap up tonight playing simulcast horse races in Philly.
I feel it's important Anne gets a "balanced" view of America.
I've been to most of the Smithsonian museums several times, but the galleries were new ground for me.
D.C. is now full of barricades, barriers and construction to make landmarks less accessible. For most of our morning tours, I could only remember how it used to be and mourn how much we have surrendered.
The afternoon in the gallery filled the growing hole in my heart. Beautiful, open space with no admission charge and the possibility around each corner of being startled by works I believed existed only in books. To almost put your nose to Van Gogh's brush strokes with only discreet, suit-jacketed personnel standing quietly by was the ultimate antidote to the fortresses of the morning.
I was on Anne's turf, without a fraction of her art education or learned appreciation, surprised with the magic that was there for me.
We will need to return to Washington at the end of the trip, cutting off the Cleveland and Asheville swings, so decided to seek fresh scenery today.
We spent the afternoon in Fells Point (Baltimore's original harbor area ) and landed in a Holiday Inn just outside the ballpark in Philadelphia -- the direct result of calling the 800-number from the car two exits before we got to the hotel... but I thought it rather appropriate to offer Anne a hotel with a baseball stadium in the backyard. What could be more American?
The dining room is closed for remodelling, they told us when we checked in, but we could go next door to dinner... at the Off Track Betting facility.
Now we were on my turf. Literally.
I bought a Form, we ordered dinner and spent the evening with the varied stock of Charlestown. Anne proved an adept visual handicapper and we both cashed tickets.
The best way to end this would be a big winning ticket which we used to purchase great art.
Instead we ended up losing only $9, laughing a great deal and discovering how much more we both can look forward to learning in these weeks.
The things we planned have been great, the things that simply presented themselves have been gifts.


Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs