I'm flying back to New York this afternoon after a wonderful week in Washington.
Good meals with old friends, (mostly) perfect weather for walking in a beautiful city, and a lot of time in museums: the Renwick, the National Gallery, the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and, seen here, the National Archives.
I was sure I must have visited the Archives during my first trip to Washington many years ago, but as soon as I saw the Rotunda where the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights are displayed, I knew I'd never been there before.
It brought tears to my eyes. The Declaration in particular is so faded you can hardly read it, but the ideals they embody are so resonant. I want my country back. I will do whatever I have to to make that happen.