So Long!!

[Mae13]

Well, final post as I take a quick food break from packing and cleaning! Head out to DC (unless I have more bad luck like I did 11 Sept the last time I *tried* to head there!) tomorrow morning!

Gods I'm excited!! This is the first trip I've taken in a looong time to somewhere I've never even been remotely close to before! Yay!! After the conference is over I get to head down and see some wonderful friends I've been apart from for too long. Good thing about the military; you have friends everywhere. Guess that's a good thing about the 'Net too, eh?

I can't wait to see the Women's Memorial! I think about trying for a flight nurse slot once I get to Germany. Will increase my chances of finally getting the deployment/humanitiarian I've been begging for the entire time I've been in *sigh* Go figure, they send the whiny ones who do nothing but bitch, yet keep the ones that want to go! *shakes head* Ah well...

I can't wait to see The Wall. I think I might go there tomorrow night. I don't know. Don't know if I'll go more than once. I don't think they have an MIA section there, so I won't be finding Robert Altus again as I showed in my Portland pictures (Sorry, can't remember who had asked about that). I can find the folks from my University that died. Had a friend ask me to look up his cousin, he was the last boychild of an entire branch of his family after his brothers were killed...he died the day he was supposed to ship back Stateside. Damn that story's far too commmon...
Glad I'm not going at high tourist season; don't really want lots of people around when I look at it for the first time...anyhoos...

OK, will scamper off and finish my last bit of packing and cleaning! Can't wait to face the city I turned PM's off too, hehe. My heartfelt apologies to those who I have not managed to get back to yet re: your kind PM or email. I don't think I'll be online much at all this trip, I need a recharge for my mental/emotional health in a major way. I cannot wait for this damn year to be over so I can shut the door on it. Only a couple more weeks....

Be good while I'm gone! Or at least, be good at it
*tight hugs*
Travellin' Mae

 

[Woodmiester]

The Wall and those listed as MIA

Mae,
Hope you have a learning experience while there. The Wall not only list those KIA but also our MIA's as well. When you visit there will be volunteers ready to assist you and will explain the markings by each name and what it means.
As one of our Soldier's are brought back, their status as MIA is removed and their mark changed to denote them as KIA,

But,

To those of you that have lost all hope that those listed as POW-MIA are dead and gone, don't.
In 1991 there were live sightings of no less the 190 US Service members still alive and not living on their own free will but still help captive and made to do forced labor. Our DOD for whatever reason has yet to let America know what it has or will do about this, but hope hasn't died.

Mae don't forget to visit the 3 soldier's at the edge of The Wall. It's one of the most moving moments I've had watching the eyes of stone look out, seeing their brothers and sisters upon The Wall.

You'll never forget being there, and for any Nam Vets seeing this, I have one thing to say to each of you.....

WELCOME HOME!

 

[Woodmiester]

NEVER FORGET

a gif for anyone wishing to use it

 

[KMann]

bon voyage

Hope your trip goes well and the weather is as nice as last week. I won't be back until January or I'd offer you a drink at the Ritz.

 

[modest mouse]

Mae,

The Wall is the most powerful memorial of any kind that I have personally been to. Much of monument row impresses with its representation of history but The Wall is there in front of you. Each name so small and that damn thing stretches on forever.

Its powerful to see people rub fingers across the name of someone they knew.

 

[Woodmiester]

The Wall

How can anyone not be moved.

You enter from the end, the noise of a busy city pounding in your ears and within a few steps all sounds cease to exist, there is nothing but you and the names, the memories of those listed before your eyes........

You almost fear looking at the reflectin for fear of what may be looking back at you..........

 

[KMann]

wall

Yes, I've only been to the wall once, about ten years ago, even though I've been in DC for about a year and a half lately. Too powerful and too special to go too often. Not only the names themselves and the visitors, but the powerful aesthetics of it too. Maya Lin did a remarkable job of designing a fitting tribute to so many.

http://www.digidot.com/sal9697/Maya_Lin.html

 

[hornygirl]

Have a safe trip

Get yourself rejuvenated. Enjoy your friends and your time.

I'm with you on the year, hopefully next year can be better. The bright spot of my year was meeting and falling in love with Delurker, but the rest was pretty rough. Hoping for a fresh New Year myself. Have a wonderful holiday and know people who have gotten to know you here at Lit are thinking of you and sending all the best and happiest wishes your way.

 

[jeditoph]

oh Captain my Captain

Enjoy the trip. Tried to send you a message today. Haven't forgotten.

Carpe diem,

Topher

 

[digger51]

bon voyage

hope you enjoy your trip and enjoy this area Mae
after the last few weeks can't think of anyone deserving a good vacation than you

I was lucky enough to be there for the dedication of the Wall and go back at least once a year
yes Mae,I think it will be good to be there out of peak tourist season
It will give you a chance to appreciate it from close up and a distance
Having seen it from all angles and all times of day and weather,it continues to amaze me how touching and emotional such a simple structure is
BTW damn has become my favorite time to be there

 

[~justin]

Well, Mae, au revoir... et bon voyage

I hope you have a wonderful trip

 

[aaron697]

Miss you

Take care, be safe. I know the trip will be a positive and memorable. A trip report will be in order when you return....

Put that camera to use!

*Hugs*

A

 

[brooklynkid]

HAve a great time, We'll miss you

 

[SamMalone]

Have a great trip!

Mae....

Have a great trip and enjoy yourself.......all your fans will be anxiously awaiting your return.

 

[sscDrake]

Have a great trip Mae... and have a great time in DC... We'll all be waiting for when you get back...

Drake

 

[Nigel]

Mae:

Have a wonderful trip! I was in DC for a TV shoot a few years ago, and stayed a couple of days after working so I could play tourist. Some suggestions and observations...and to add to the comments that have already been given:

The Wall - absolutely the most moving memorial I have ever seen. The thing that got to me most was the birthday cards, medals, and flowers left there. I couldn't help but look at some of the cards (didn't pick them up, of course) - some of them were left by children of those on the Wall saying "Happy Birthday, Daddy. I wish I would have met you, but I love you and miss you anyway."

The Holocaust Museum - Again, extremely moving. I found out that one has to get their free tickets the day before, as demand is so high. You can still see the "public" exhibits - which were astounding. I saw footage of the liberation of Auschwitz on a monitor...and broke down when I saw an absolutely emaciated man helping another emaciated man walk to freedom. I don't know what it was....I think the image of someone who would not look out of place on a deathbed helping another - I just started crying and said "Jesus Christ!" An older woman who I did not know put her arm around me, comforting me, and said "Jesus had nothing to do with that...or God....or Allah...or Buddah.... But they were all with us there." I looked up at her...and caught a glimpse of the faded blue numbers on her arm. She was so sweet. I just hugged her and kissed her on the cheek - and said "God bless you." I couldn't say anything else. I still think of her from time to time....

The Smithsonians - Had to do as many of them as I could in an afternoon....not good planning on my part. Each of them individually is probably a two day affair. I probably went to a total of three of them before I had to get a cab to the airport.

The Folger Shakespeare Library - so VERY cool. I jumped on the stage of the theatre and did a short monologue (Falstaff from Henry IV, pt. 2...and yes, I was alone).

I had never been to DC before that trip.....but the overwhelmingly cool thing was walking around, looking at the memorials and museums and such - and being struck with the idea that it all belongs to all of us - just a very cool feeling...

Looking forward to reading your impressions, Mae..and seeing you again on the boards.... Travel safely.

Nigel

 

[Guest]

Trip Report from Mae

Hey All! Man, gotta love shitty little free hotel web access...

So far DC has been FUN! Way cooler city than I thought it would be (sorry for those of you from here, hehe!) It is BIG and OPEN and the skyscrapers are TINY! All in all good for me Conference keeping me damn busy, wandering around lots on my bit 'o free time...I've yet to find a place I've felt unsafe wandering about by myself after sunset...I've just come to the conclusion that people just expect women to live and conduct themselves as victims...but that's a whole nother rant!

The Wall was...well, it was. Went there Wed night after the conference was over. Thank you for mentioning MIA's were on there or I would not have looked for Robert. It was WAY more intense than finding him on the OR memorial, or even the small Travelling Wall. Damn. W3 41, there he was. Really glad I went at night. Going back tonight to shoot some of the statues in the night light, I didn't have my tripod before to take non-flash pix. Wow...will elaborate more I guess when I have time and if people care. Actually, think I might try my hand at writing for that one, we'll see...
Also found Richard James Mallon, namesake of my Arnold Air Society squadron in college...all in all a speechless experience.

And after all that, I tuck myself into bed to watch a little news before sleep, and see that we lost one of my planes! It was very surreal, to hear one of the guys I'm stationed with and know talking about the crew having to egress out of their B-1B. You know, Bones are cool planes and all, and they look real pretty with their purple afterburners at night, and they cost billions each....but gimmie a BUFF or a Warthog anyday

But I digress! The E.Coast has been wonderful so far, I am off to explore more (and ride more Metro, wheeeeeee! GREAT system!) and take more pics and try not to get chased/mugged/assaulted/endangered/raped/incapacitated/murdered (did I miss any?)! lol! You guys be good (or at least good AT it!) and I'll stop in later perhaps!

*humid hugs*
Travellin' Mae

 

[P. B. Walker]

Re: Trip Report from Mae

So far DC has been FUN! Way cooler city than I thought it would be (sorry for those of you from here, hehe!) It is BIG and OPEN and the skyscrapers are TINY! All in all good for me

We told you it was a cool city... lol.

- PBW

 

[JazzManJim]

Glad you enjoyed DC, Mae. It's a nice little place - hectic at times, but with a lot worth experiencing. Hopefully you'll get to come back and do more.

All you ever have to worry about here is getting lost and ending up in a crack neighborhood. But, if your'e lucky, panicky navigation
works!

Safe travels home!