In all the rush, I never even said goodbye to my parents. I arrived at National alone. It was the old National then–an unused practically abandoned airport with an outdated terminal, even though it’s an entirely different airport, I still call it national.
The humidity was a shock, having lived in California for my entire life. I shed my jacket as soon as I got outside.
I took a cab in to the city, marveled at the Potomac at night and the Kennedy center reflected on the black river. I still hold that the District is the most majestic in the evening, either lit up by fireworks or by conventional means. DC, when I picture it, and describe it to others, is always in the evening.
I saw the the washington monument and the white house and a few executive buildings. Later, I would find out that the cab driver took the long way around so that he could charge me more zones.
And thus began my college education. Continue reading