Last year, when searching for a place to live in the District, my son-in-law gave me a tour of the city, but before that, he drew a demarcation line on a map and basically told me that the northwest section of the city was the best, safest place for me to find a home. I listened and followed his advice. However, after being here a year now, I'm starting to venture out more and explore my new home town. I've found a great website that offers half-price tickets to area happenings. For instance, on Sunday I'll hit one of the Smithsonians and find out how to capture the contents of it on my digital camera, while listening to a tour guide walk me through the place and point out the highlights. I've gone to plays at little obscure theaters in churches and universities nearby.

Last night I attended "Kiss Me Kate," a musical which is part of Washington DC's Shakespeare Festival at the Atlas Theater in the unexplored (by me) NE section of the city. When I booked the evening, I figured that I could safely take a Metrobus from my stop at McPherson Square to the heart of H street. Seemed safe enough. However, last night was such a nice evening and I'd been in training for 2 whole days so I decided to walk the 20 blocks or so instead. There was plenty of street traffic and the walk was well lit and I felt pretty safe, but wondered as I got nearer the theater what I was in store for as it seemed the only establishments I passed on the way were liquor stores and check cashing places and an occasional Subway sandwich place with burglar bars covering its doors and windows.

Upon my arrival, I was pleased to find a beautifully decorated and updated theater, a sort of pearl amongst the oysters, so to speak. The musical featured a full orchestra and probably 30 or so cast members. Although they weren't Broadway quality, they certainly gave me my money's worth as I sat in my front row seat.

The play didn't end until almost 11, and as I left, I realized that I better be smart and remember my son-in-law's advice so I stuck with a group of people as they walked down the street. My bus, the X2, headed the opposite direction of where I wanted to go, was headed my way and I quickly jumped on it, glad to be off the streets and "safe." We ended up at the Minnesota Station that looked as deserted and bleak and "scary" as could be, so I got back on the bus and waited for it to head back to my part of town.

Needless to say, I made it home safely and thought about the evening and whether or not I had taken needless chances. I decided that my choices had been valid and good ones. Living in the city, I know that the mere density of the population exposes me to dangers that I may not have otherwise. Just the other night while walking home at my normal 6 o'clock time period, a man passed by me as he was running toward an alley between the CVS Pharmacy and the adjacent building. As I looked at him, a bottle (looked like a shampoo bottle) dropped from his pocket and it was then that I realized he was a fleeing shoplifter. Taking a step further, I was met head-on, almost, as a CVS clerk chased after him.

But on the other hand, it also exposes me to really pleasant experiences as well. Just this morning as I walked to my dentist's office, I took a different street headed west and noticed a bunch of places that I want to visit and come back to. I love life in the city!