One thing that we've learned after 15+ years in the DC area, is that while the world famous cherry blossoms may be stunningly gorgeous, they are also a bit finicky. Last year we went a day or two too late and instead of delicate pink blossoms as a backdrop for all of our photos, all we got was pink coated shoes.
Winters are always hard on my psyche, but this year even more so, seemed especially bleak. I felt a little dark cloud hanging over my head for months on end and it was all I could do to pull myself out of bed each day, yet alone accomplish anything of substance. Usually March in the DC area brings beautifully mild temps, more sunshine, and a relief from my winter blues. This year, however, winter didn't seem to want to let go. Cold temps and even snow continued well into March, keeping me in my funk. It wasn't until this past week that I got the dose of literal and figurative sunshine that I'd been craving and I felt the clouds start to part a bit. General Conference was just the kind of spiritual boost I needed (this talk in particular really touched my soul) and proved to be the catalyst for shaking the dust off my soul. Then the sunshine came too.
I was a little disheartened at first that we seemed to go straight from 40-degrees to 90+ degree days, but after spending some time outside, I realized that ninety degrees and sunny seemed positively like just what the doctor ordered. And it helped the cherry blossoms to bloom quickly!
So when we heard the reports that the cherry blossoms were in full bloom this week, I determined that there was no way we were going to miss seeing them this year. Too bad my schedule didn't agree with my determination. I had a couple of pretty big deadlines hanging over my head this week and I wasn't sure how to make it happen. Then one of my kids developed an annoying "condition" that required them to stay home for a couple of days. Think itchy heads and special combs to get a feel for the kind of condition I mean. All of the work to take care of their condition added an element of stress to the week and made me all the more determined that I wasn't missing out on my beloved cherry blossoms.
So I did what any good mother would do.
I dragged the kids out of bed before the crack of dawn, let the other kids skip school too, and arrived to this glorious sight before 8:00 in the morning!
We had beat the tour buses there and got to enjoy a much needed walk around the Tidal Basin without all of the crowds.
or at least not that many lines.
It was just the dose of sunshine and beauty that I needed to instill that fresh burst of hope into my soul....
We arrived back home just after lunchtime, tired but rejuvenated enough to be able to face my laundry pile again.
*******************
Winters are always hard on my psyche, but this year even more so, seemed especially bleak. I felt a little dark cloud hanging over my head for months on end and it was all I could do to pull myself out of bed each day, yet alone accomplish anything of substance. Usually March in the DC area brings beautifully mild temps, more sunshine, and a relief from my winter blues. This year, however, winter didn't seem to want to let go. Cold temps and even snow continued well into March, keeping me in my funk. It wasn't until this past week that I got the dose of literal and figurative sunshine that I'd been craving and I felt the clouds start to part a bit. General Conference was just the kind of spiritual boost I needed (this talk in particular really touched my soul) and proved to be the catalyst for shaking the dust off my soul. Then the sunshine came too.
I was a little disheartened at first that we seemed to go straight from 40-degrees to 90+ degree days, but after spending some time outside, I realized that ninety degrees and sunny seemed positively like just what the doctor ordered. And it helped the cherry blossoms to bloom quickly!
So when we heard the reports that the cherry blossoms were in full bloom this week, I determined that there was no way we were going to miss seeing them this year. Too bad my schedule didn't agree with my determination. I had a couple of pretty big deadlines hanging over my head this week and I wasn't sure how to make it happen. Then one of my kids developed an annoying "condition" that required them to stay home for a couple of days. Think itchy heads and special combs to get a feel for the kind of condition I mean. All of the work to take care of their condition added an element of stress to the week and made me all the more determined that I wasn't missing out on my beloved cherry blossoms.
So I did what any good mother would do.
I dragged the kids out of bed before the crack of dawn, let the other kids skip school too, and arrived to this glorious sight before 8:00 in the morning!
We stopped at all the Memorials along the way and just had a nice lazy morning without standing in any lines...
or at least not that many lines.
It was just the dose of sunshine and beauty that I needed to instill that fresh burst of hope into my soul....
...and made me all the more grateful to live so near this fabulous city.
We arrived back home just after lunchtime, tired but rejuvenated enough to be able to face my laundry pile again.
*******************
3 comments:
I really like the pictures! The last one is pretty awesome :) What a beautiful day outside that day!
Sounds like the perfect day. I love going to the memorials and monuments early in the morning before they are buzzing with people. I hope that "condition" is getting cleared up. That can be such a pain!
The scores of times that I have been to DC over the past 40 years and I have never seen the cherry blossoms
Shame on me!
So much beauty-so much pinkness!
Thanks for sharing.
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