Washington DC, Fireflies …and Irreverent Me

Have you ever seen the U.S. capitol? Toured the monuments? Visited the hallowed halls of the founding fathers and their documents of “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take this any more!”-ness ? But….have you ever seen fireflies?

I am patriotic, really! (said with perhaps too much doth protesting) And I find our relatively fledgling governmental history fascinating and a thing of pride, courage and pioneering.  In all of my worldly travels, (including Costa Rican rain forests, Indian temples and African safaris) I had not yet made it to the illustrious capitol of my country I am proud to call home (OK OK for all of our faults and quirks we do shine in potential and spirit and heart!)

And so, because I have come to feel this is a loving and tolerant blog community – work with me here – I shall recount my exact reactions upon experiencing my first hours touring the center of Washington, DC and gazing at the impressive sights.

Washington Monument

To get to there, I took an inexpensive yet efficient, reliable and internet-equipped Bolt bus to DC from New York. (The return trip was with a well-known competitor who I shall kindly refrain to name and also omit the gory details of their ineptness) My dear and wonderful friend Debra, who I met on Twitter as @MomsofAmerica, picked me up from the centrally located Union Station, by which I was appropriately awed.  We immediately started a walking tour of the capital building and the Supreme Court and other supreme buildings.

We gazed down the famous mall at the Washington monument in the distance and then took to the car for a cruise around the monuments as the sun set and the buildings were illuminated in full regalia.  After the sun set, Debra then drove me past the Jefferson memorial, the Lincoln memorial, and the Kennedy Center.  At each site she offered to park to allow me a better shot and I figured I would have other opportunities. It was a beautiful balmy night.

And then something caught my eye. At first I thought someone had flicked the ashes from their cigarette, but then I saw the same quick orange floating glow in multiples…and I squealed!  Debra stopped the car mid-traffic and I leaped out to gawk in child-like wonder at these magical illuminating creatures.

To understand my delight in the lights dancing around me, perhaps it helps to know I am a seasoned traveler and yet this is my first encounter with fireflies.  I have even been to the deep south, on several trips to Florida and Georgia and Texas.  With no sightings to add to my resume.

“The universe is full of magical things, patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.” Eden Phillpotts

But most significantly, I grew up in Southern California with the original Disneyland as a regular playground and the existence of fireflies presented as the most mesmerizing aspect of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  Remember the “New Orleans” style restaurant next to it where you dine in artificial outdoors, on a patio illuminated by lanterns and little flickering lights bouncing on mechanical strings?  Well, I was convinced; that they were magical miniature Tinkerbells.

Lincoln Memorial

So perhaps you’ll allow me my silly moment in DC and forgive my goofness on the video below.  In my adult years, I had been disheartened by reports that fireflies were diminishing in numbers recently.  I am reheartened.

As for the monuments?  What more perfect backdrop could there be to grace me with the gift of a childhood dream of witnessing little glimmers of magic? I will forever hold the significance and solemnity of our nation’s capitol and the history held within in perfect balance with an appropriate sense of wonder.

Photos by Gina Stark, except the one with me in it – by a good samaritan

If you liked this post, you may also like this one about my Interactive Travels.