We got to a slow start this morning because Belinda wasn’t feeling well. But around 11:30 am, she started feeling more up to going out and seeing some things. We talked about uber or metro, and then ended up walking the 2.2 miles from our hotel to the Library of Congress. Belinda wanted to see the books!
We went to the Jefferson building, and you have to sign up to get inside. So I got online, signed us up, and inside we went! There were several displays and galleries inside, and the artwork on the ceilings was beautiful.There was also a big beautiful Christmas tree. But Belinda said, “Where are the books?” At one point, we went to an area where you could look out over the area where the books were. There were librarians and a few patrons in there. Hmm. Then we saw a sign that said that you had to apply for a library card to use the reading rooms, and it had to be done in advance. So we scanned the QR code, filled out the quick forms, and found someone who could tell us what to do next! Nice that Belinda is 18 now so we didn’t need to print out anything for me to sign for her to have her own card. The lady made sure that we had already signed up (we didn’t mention it was five minutes before) and then sent us to check our coats and bags, then down three long hallways to an elevator. We rode that that, then asked the man there what to do, and he sent us to another room where we showed our drivers’ licenses and they took our photos and gave us our new library cards! They expire in 2027, which is a good thing since after our walk my hair looked like I’d stuck a fork in a toaster. But how cool is that!
We went in to the reading room at the Jefferson building. You can’t take any books off the shelves yourself – you have to look up what you want and tell a librarian and they get it for you and you read it there. They have a lot of genealogy things there and I have wanted to see Library of Congress materials before but never knew how to do it. Now I know!
Belinda wanted to see the law library collection most of all, so we left the Jefferson building and went across the street to the Madison building. This building was much more quiet and there were no tourists (except us, ha ha). We figured out the layout, checked our coats and bags, and went and found the law library. Everybody was so nice there! The librarian helped Belinda find the section on Space Law that she asked about, and the bookshelves were all pushed up together but they came apart with a crank on the side (it was seriously the coolest thing ever) and then she left us to that section – you can take books off the shelves yourself in the law library. Belinda got a Space Law book and I selected one on Maritime Law – the law of the sea (for all you Arrested Development fans out there). We found a cozy place to read and it was nice and quiet, with other patrons browsing, researching, and readings.
After looking at entries on shipwrecks and piracy, I became weary of maritime law and picked up the Library of Congress magazine on the table in front of us, and that was really interesting. I discovered that there used to be a tunnel between the Jefferson Building and Congress, so the Congressmen could have quick access to the library holdings, but it was closed when the Capitol Visitor Center was built. And that got me thinking about National Treasure and 39 Clues type of things, and how much I would like to read a book that included some sort of exciting secret with that tunnel. I guess I should write it!
We never ate lunch, so we went to a place called Good Stuff Eatery and had chicken strips and fries. We sat up on the second floor and the place was empty except for us and we looked out the windows and all the people coming and going. I have been guiltily getting chocolate milkshakes lately from McDonalds (I had no idea they had gotten so good!) and so I really wanted a chocolate milkshake, but they also had a toasted marshmallow flavor and so I got that. It was okay, but I think the chocolate shakes from McDonalds are better! I guess I like all those fake ingredients, I don’t know.
At home, the family was having a funeral for Nutmeg. Belinda and I were sorry that we couldn’t be there, but glad because we did love on her while she was with us. Sweet kitty.
Anyway, we took an uber back because it was getting dark and we were tired. The man who drove us was from Ethiopia. We haven’t been making small talk with any of our drivers but this man took the lead and so we chatted with him. It was interesting learning about his life and we told him a little about Oklahoma. He was surprised to learn that no one really honks their horn much in Oklahoma, and that we felt personally victimized when people honk their horn around us. He said there’s so much honking in DC that it’s like music to him, ha ha! We had to pretend to hear him sometimes over the noise but we did okay.
Now we are back in the room and hanging out. It’s nice to just be with Belinda.