Wrapping Up

Now that the play-by-play detail of the Washington D.C. trip is posted I will share some last thoughts.  After this, it’s back to the trite accounts of the mundane life I live.  

Was it nice to recall some memories from early childhood?  Sure.  My recollections of living in Vienna, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland are overall pleasant.  

Visiting our nation’s capital as an adult versus the things I remember from decades past?  Well, when we went to the Lincoln Memorial I recall Lincoln being much bigger.  The National Mall was a bit different in years past and the war memorials didn’t exist way back when.  

I remember a lot from the young years but not everything.  After returning to the Sunflower State I had a phone conversation with Mom and Dad.  They told me I have been in the capitol itself and even watched the Senate while in session.  I also ate in the Senate cafeteria.  Sadly I don’t remember either.  I’m sure our family drove down Pennsylvania Avenue in front of a certain house whose color is white numerous times but I don’t have specific recall of those car trips.  

Then there’s the family-famous story of Dad’s attempt to get The Perfect Picture.  He kept backing up and backing up until Mom mumbled: “Your father’s going to step back just a little too far and fall right into the Reflecting Pool.”  

Dad stopped just short.  

Traveling via a luxury coach (that was well air-conditioned) was a plus.  For a few days I was willing to give up my independence and control for the convenience.  But after returning home I gladly again enjoyed getting behind the wheel.  

I ended the last entry with my going down to crash on the queen bed in guest bedroom.  When I woke some three hours later it took me well over a minute to get my bearings.  

That hasn’t happened since I-don’t-know-when.

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Now, esoteric broadcast/technical stuff that no one really cares about:

Although the Geohouse family ventured across the Mississippi River into a small smidge of Wisconsin last summer this journey to D.C. and Virginia was also noteworthy for me in that I was in the territory of broadcast stations that use “W” as the first call letter.  

First time since leaving Baltimore to move to Houston.  

I enjoyed the view of the Windy City (out of the airplane window) on the first leg of the trip.  Yet just as exciting was firing up the radio once I had some breakfast in front of me.  However since airports nowadays have so much RF the reception isn’t the best.  Chicago’s powerful AM stations (670, 720, 780, and 890) came in acceptable but the lesser-endowed Ancient Modulation stations weren’t so audible.  

Then I switched to FM.  Sadly with corporate ownership they sounded much like the stations I can hear in any city.  One exception was WFMT, still playing classical music in the commercial part of the dial.  At the time they were playing Ravel’s “Bolero,” certainly a memorable tune.  One by which I can enjoy my sustenance of corned beef hash and eggs.  Washed down with orange juice.  

I didn’t begin listening to the District’s stations until much later in the day when we were on the road to Williamsburg.  Nothing too interesting on the AM dial, then I just got plain sleepy and put the device away.  

But not before tuning in to 1500, once the home of news station WTOP, one of the heritage stations of the area.  It’s now WFED and information I read online indicates its programming is targeted to federal employees.  

Just like everything else associated with the government, this station was colossally boring.  I didn’t need to be put to sleep like that.  

More to follow….