Part 1: recap...visitors - from the North

This month has been full of visitors from far off places - NYC and San Fran Bay Area.

Visit 1: “THE LAW"
My first guest were the Partridge Family: Meredith (Black), Jake, and Erica. They came down via train and stayed steps from the White House. It was a delightful visit. I met up with them on Saturday, it was a rainy, slightly muggy day but welcomed. We went to Arlington, Air Force Memorial, Capitol Hill, and drove around the Mall.

My most memorable moments were Jake's run-ins with "the law".

#1: It started at breakfast…well after, we ate at Whitlow’s – good food, very affordable. We parked in a paid lot but were there well before it opened. Upon return an attendant had shown up and was setting up. We were packing the car. Mer, Erica, and I got in; Jake was approached by the attendant (foreign) gentleman asking for money. Jake started to challenge the man and referring to the sign that had no hours of operation and no one present upon our arrival. Now the guy was writing down my license plate…watching from inside we kind of chuckled this small man was trying to get $5 out of Jake. Jake continued to pack up, and then started asking the guy for references, a badge, a company name, something showing authority to insist payment. The attendant of course could not give any answers to suffice Jake or get $5 out of him; so he just dismissed the guy after giving him a stern lashing of ignorance. It was very amusing to us in the car. In the car Jake assured me that I would have little to no ramifications, but if I was concerned he would pay the $5…I felt like we had committed no crime so it was fine.

#2: As we were leaving Arlington he paid for parking and the parking attendant gave him back change out of a $20 bill and that consisted of a $10 ROLL of quarters and some $1's. It was hilarious, we were all a little perplexed by the "change" the foreign attendant said he had no 1's or 5's. Well this not at all to Jake’s liking, a slightly heated verbal exchange occurred and I was smack in the middle. Mer and I were trying to remain composed and not break out in laughter. I give points to Jake for his precise, articulate displeasure in receiving the "change"...literally. I decided it was time to move so I drove us away. As we drove away Jake continued to express his disgust of the situation. I managed to tease him about his problem with “authority” and how the “law” is just out to get him. Lucky for Jake he was able to cash in his $10 roll of quarters at a convenience store.

After these moments we had no more trouble with “the law”. All in all it was a delightful weekend with the Partridge’s. The funny thing is we never took a single picture together.