Last Day in Washington, July 22

Denis had to go to work this day.  The rest of us held down the fort.  As one can imagine, the house was a hodge-podge of things that were all out of place due to the unpacking process.  The mode of the day was survival.

Robin's Significant Other, Jesse, came over to be Robin most of the day.  I unpacked almost nothing, since I would be flying to Indiana the very next day.  When suppertime came, Meg threw some grub together.  No one went hungry.  Most of the rest of the day was spent just puttering around and resting.  It was a necessary thing to do.  Mom used to call the post-vacation slump a "let-down".  I think we all knew it would take days, maybe even a week or more, to regenerate our attitudes and energy.  We didn't resist.  I still had two flights the next day to do, and Meg and Den still had to get me to the airport.  No rest for the weary!

I've already written about my flights back to Indiana.
It has taken me a week-and-a-half to write about all of the excursions and experiences I had while in Washington this summer.
The only thing left is to recap some feelings:

1.  My family is awesome!  Megan is a planner and supreme tour guide.  Denis is a trouper.  They are fun to be around.  Robin is private, adventurous, and fun.  Ryan really is a good guy who, in spite of his protests, enjoys being with family.  There is a special place in my heart for all of them.  I am so blessed!

2.  I saw and did more things during my visit than many people get to do in a lifetime.  The family spent thousands of dollars to make this a Bucket List trip for me.  I'll not soon forget it.  I am so blessed!

3.  I was surrounded by more history and more beauty than any one person deserves.  I saw places I've only seen in pictures before--and I am a semi-world traveler.  There is so much to see and do right here in the Good Old USA, who needs to travel overseas?  We are so blessed!

4.  I have come to understand what a culturally and geologically diverse country we live in.  I mean, I already knew it, but sometimes we just have to see it firsthand to fully comprehend.  We are so blessed!

I'm still basking in the afterglow almost two weeks after returning home...