Brief Sojourn in Washington D.C

So here I am in the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., trying my very best not to feel sorry for myself. It’s actually working. I will say though, that on the outset the trip was looking like a nightmare. I had arranged to stay with a friend. I took the train down after a routine (read crazy) day at work. I got into the station around 9:55pm and tried to reach my friend who had told me she would be home by 10:30pm. I got an “out of service” message when I called so resorted to Whatsapp. She responded fifteen minutes later confirming that she was not yet home but would be by 10:45pm. I did not want to have to wait out on her doorsteps in the cold so I stayed in the station a while longer before getting the Metro to her place. I arrived to a Whatsapp message saying that she was still out having fun so I could let myself in with the spare key she kept in a lock box. Found the box alright. Code worked. Struggled with the several doors just a bit and was in her apartment in a matter of minutes…only to set off her security alarm. It was loud for 11pm. It was loud period!

I was still getting “out of service” messages when I called, and she was not replying on Whatsapp any further. Seems like she was indeed having fun. The neighbour came down. I explained I was a friend who had been given the key but not the alarm code. She left. In the cold apartment, I realized that if I stayed really still, the alarm would keep itself quiet. I waited for my friend to return. In the silence, there were voices at the door and a knock. The motion-detector sensed me as I made my way to the door, and started all over again. It was the neighbour with the police. I gave me explanation again, and my driver’s license. I was upset. Tired, cold, hungry, and upset. It took an hour before my friend contacted me with the alarm code…apparently she had changed her phone number.

In short, not a good start to my escape. 

The following day, I had a leisurely walk to Cocova to purchase specialty chocolates driven by the recent Hershey’s-Cadbury’s debacle. That only means a new installation of Tasting Notes by the way. I met up with a Wellesley class-mate over Ethiopian food at Dukem which I had been craving for a few months. We chatted for hours, catching up, commiserating, and supporting each other. I returned home to see the friend I was staying with just leaving for a walk, so into the cold dark evening we strolled three miles to a nearby bookstore where I marveled at all the books I have not read. 

That evening, I met up with another friend, and a bunch of her friends for dinner at Pizzeria Paradiso and a night out.  I’m still salivating over the Quattro Formaggi pizza which was oh so delicious. Alas, I pooped out at midnight and went home. The following day, I had meant to go eyeglass-frame shopping but it was cold and gray and I just didn’t feel like it. Instead I lounged around being present in my doing of nothing. It felt great. I ended the night watching Trevor Noah’s African American show on Netflix rather than the Super Bowl. Dude is a breath of fresh air. 

I enjoyed my time in DC. I’m still to go eyeglass-frame shopping but I really don’t feel up to it, it’s raining freezing rain. There’s always another time. I’ve already put it off for two years, after all.