There are times when travel catches up with me, and I cannot remember exactly where (or who) I am. Surely you have had the same out-of-body experience. You wake up early one morning, and wonder whose bed you are sleeping in and how did you get there.

Today I am in Washington DC. I speak at Penn State on Wednesday, and I decided to bring my youngest grandson, Woodrow, with me. Woodrow lives in Palos Verdes (near Redondo Beach), and is enjoying his spring break. We decided to combine business with pleasure on this trip, and we are squeezing in DC before we go to State College.

My grandparents brought me to DC for the first time nearly 50 years ago. How interesting to now be repeating that tradition. I suspect that I am about the same age as my grandfather then, and he did not live long after our trip.

Woodrow and I joined the countless thousands crowding the Mall (combination of fantastic weather and the White House Easter Egg Roll). As we neared the Tidal Basin we noticed that the cherry trees were still in bloom. I suspect that we are about a week late, but I still enjoyed the color that remained. Only a couple of weeks ago I photographed cherries in Kyoto, and now I am half way around the world doing the same.

Which world am I in?

We finished the day at the Lincoln Memorial. This has always been my favorite of the collection (although the Korean War Memorial is extraordinarily moving). While contemplating his monument I thought back to Nara and the Buddha there. Perhaps the Lincoln Memorial is the American version of the Buddha at Nara. America invested over 700 thousand lives to rid the country of the sin of slavery, including the life of Abraham Lincoln. To share this moment with my grandson, like my grandfather did with me, is an American tradition worth repeating.

Pass it on.

Ted
5 April 2010