musings on a museum
Here is a photo of me hanging in the Museum of the BlogosphereI am a bit of a museum nerd. Growing up just outside of Washington DC, I never realized how good I had it as a kid. We would go to the Smithsonian Institute for field trips. We would visit the Museum of Natural History, which was magical, with the gigantic mastodon in the middle of the main level, and with it's larger-than-life exhibits.
The National Archives which houses our country's most precious documents. The Air and Space Museum where I learned about magical flying machines and the development of the space travel program. Not to mention all of the national memorials at my fingertips sitting there proudly along the Potomac River. The Jefferson Memorial, the National Monument (which, when I was young, you could climb to the top of. *sigh*), the Lincoln Memorial, which is set so beautifully amongst trees and a reflecting pool. I still cry every time I read the Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation which are carved into the granite walls beside Lincoln's Greek god-like, huge, seated statue.
Mount Vernon right down the highway, where my revolutionary crush, George Washington, lived. I love that man. My husband laughs at the way I almost swoon when I read about him and his part in our nation's history. Only a couple of hours away was Philadelphia. Eight hours, Boston. And the list goes on. Not to mention wonderful things I have been privileged to see in Europe.
We get perspective, not in an overly humbling way, like we might when we hear stories of sacrifices people have had to make, or when we hear about poverty-stricken countries. But we get the kind of perspective that says in our minds, Aren't you happy to be alive?
The National Archives which houses our country's most precious documents. The Air and Space Museum where I learned about magical flying machines and the development of the space travel program. Not to mention all of the national memorials at my fingertips sitting there proudly along the Potomac River. The Jefferson Memorial, the National Monument (which, when I was young, you could climb to the top of. *sigh*), the Lincoln Memorial, which is set so beautifully amongst trees and a reflecting pool. I still cry every time I read the Gettysburg Address and the Emancipation Proclamation which are carved into the granite walls beside Lincoln's Greek god-like, huge, seated statue.
Mount Vernon right down the highway, where my revolutionary crush, George Washington, lived. I love that man. My husband laughs at the way I almost swoon when I read about him and his part in our nation's history. Only a couple of hours away was Philadelphia. Eight hours, Boston. And the list goes on. Not to mention wonderful things I have been privileged to see in Europe.
We get perspective, not in an overly humbling way, like we might when we hear stories of sacrifices people have had to make, or when we hear about poverty-stricken countries. But we get the kind of perspective that says in our minds, Aren't you happy to be alive?
9 comments
Whoa! You look like you belong in there! The Mona Lisa has nothing on you!
I am a fellow museum nerd. Totally. The Louvre, the Uffizzi, the Getty. Love them all. But the D.C. museums are among my favorite. Lincoln's top hat and death mask. The National Portrait Gallery. The FDR monument (my favorite).
We recently Netflixed the HBO mini-series about John Adams and at one point I had to turn to my husband and say, "I love you, but if you die, I'm totally marrying George Washington." Total rock star.
Melanie, you are my soul sister!
If I were to choose a president to marry, it would be Thomas Jefferson. Sorry, Kaz, but it sounds like George is taken, anway.
I LOVE this picture!! So cool. You're so dang hot. :)
I love it that you're a museum nerd.
Every time we visit in the States we go to all sorts of Museums. I LOVE IT. Around here we sometimes go to Museums of art, but none of the hands on or nature or science museums like you have all over America. I miss it so much. I know, I'm living in Europe and a place with such a rich history and I miss American museums. Sorry. I suppose visiting the ruins of castles is like going to a museum. A very awesome one.
Greg read us some of George Washington's writings over dinner on Thanksgiving (mostly his declaration of the Thanksgiving holiday) and MAN that's some of the best stuff ever. I'd forgotten how intelligent and inspiring he was. (I haven't read anything of his, really since AP US History! :(
Kazzy, we were cosmically meant to meet in Blogland. I am a museum nerd too, and I think I raised a daughter who is also one. Of all the places she could visit on her trip to England first on her list was the British Museum. When I went to NY and Chicago, that 's all I did, museum hop. And that's also one reason I love living close to San Francisco, the art museums. Unfortunately I've never been to DC yet. Someday.
Hey, you are such a classic beauty in that photo. A maestro should paint you. You'd be an ageless piece of Art.
Where exactly did you grow up? My husband grew up in Winchester, VA and visited all those museums, too.
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