DC Proximity

Last weekend turned into a couple of days in DC to attend a symposium on Abraham Lincoln at the National Archives. DC isn't exactly tramping Roanoke, but stay with me.

On the drive up, we listened to an audio book on Lincoln to jog our memories of dates, names, battles, and legislation.

It was interesting to hear these very assertions questioned and discussed during the symposium which was - above all - a room full of people who already enjoyed a high Lincoln literacy and had moved on to refining that knowledge with specifics in lieu of popular conjecture. Here were titans in the field who had written a handful of books on the subject, some slightly thicker than that dictionary you always had to wade through in your middle school library.

At the end of each lecture was a time for questions, and I crafted at least one question for each speaker as if prepared in case called upon and not about to stand in front of Lincoln scholars and as if they'd heard the latest Lincoln/Kennedy connection.

The next day, spoiled by ubiquitous IKEA's out west, we did some light IKEA shopping before heading to Little Ethiopia for some lunch.

The drive is no Sunday stroll, but how fortunate we are to live somewhere within a manageable distance to our capital. I'll not go on a patriotic rant about DC's history and character (though there is that), but let's look at it from a completely practical standpoint: while the parking might be a bit of a bear, where else can you burn a whole week on museums, galleries, and events without paying a dime?

Okay, so the history is pretty nice, too. As for Lincoln: I've got some serious reading to do before my next symposium.