ITW In Washington D.C.

No man is above the law and no man below it. ~Theodore Roosevelt

Last week I spent in D.C. for work. International Telecom Week is a conference where all telephone companies come together to discuss sales business. But rather than bore you with all those details, I'll entertain you with the highlights...

I traveled with a co-worker, Topher, and while sitting in the airport waiting for our plane a lady thought he was my 12 year old son. So all week long, I was "mom".

Monday as we were leaving the "Hinckley" Hilton (This is where Pres. Reagan assassination attempt took place, along with ITW conferences and where I stayed) for lunch I lost my footing on the edge of the sidewalk and went down attempting to do the perfect face plant in front of the 300+ foreigners taking a smoke break! Damn that hurt. My manager and colleague were genuinely concerned as asked if I was alright. I immediately stood and commented that I was glad to have done it in front of everyone - I would have hated a wasted fall and not amusing people with a good laugh. There was a nice Jewish man who helped pick up my purse and belongings that went sailing across the sidewalk. I wanted so badly to say, "God bless you." And why is it when you fall does it always happen in slow motion?! It's like you have time to think, "Oh, shit this is going to hurt and there's not a damn thing I can do about it!" Needless to say, I walked with a ghetto limp the rest of the trip.

Monday evening Topher and I walked the area and it didn't take long for me to figure out DuPont Circle was one of DC's gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered centers. I witnessed a man being hit on by another man and hearing, "But I know I would cheat on you..." Eww. I went into my first gay book store, Lambda Rising. Topher was quick to tell me he was out of his element - so was I but I wasn't broadcasting it! I got an education that night, the magazines I saw! Goodness! We were having a great time looking at these scent of a scandle candles cracking up at the names. I was asked if I wanted to try on some jewelry just for fun - I declined - I'm not ready to take that next step! ; ) A few doors up was Human Rights Campaign store, they had a shirt that made me laugh 'Marriage...is so gay'. I would have bought it if it wasn't $30! As we walked further I was offered a palm reading and a Tarot card reading. Call me old fashion but, no thank you! D.C. also is crowded with homeless people, it's sad to see. People shaking their cups at you for money or seeing them sleeping on the sidewalk. Last year I saw make shift homes made out of shopping cards and trash down in the entrance of the subways. It really humbles the heart.

Tuesday night we attended the ultimate party of ITW hosted by Telefonica (a Latino company) and do they know how to throw a party! First off, not just anybody can attend. They require bracelets and invitation and those are few and far between. A few of us scored and were bussed out to the Kennedy center. They always have a live band, open bar, great food, amazing atmosphere with special lighting effects. This year they had professional dancers. I liked watching them. Between numbers they would grab someone from the crowd. I went out and danced with one of them! The terrace was opened and between rainstorms we'd go out to catch a breath of fresh air. I loved the view!!! You can see a few memorials and watch the planes come in for landing. But 11:30 p I was done though. The others headed on to another party at Cafe Citron. They teach Salsa there and I went last year. It's crowded and loud. I had too many encounters with sweaty bodies last year that I didn't want to go back.

Wednesday was our team celebration dinner and the weather was bad. {There was a tornado south of DC that afternoon and with kids being in school (till June 20th) they were in lock down.} I was one of the first to arrive at the dinner and the bartender and I were talking. I mention I was from the midwest and then was asked how to handle a storm like these as there was a second storm coming and it was forecasted to be worse than the first. I don't know if it was worse, I'm from the midwest! I wasn't worried. But because of the storms getting a taxi back to the hotel was awful. We waited more than 30mins. I was exhausted and just wanted to be in bed.

Thursday was the day we visited The Holocaust Memorial Museum. If you ever get a chance, I would suggest going. It took me 4 hours to go through it. I worked with a Jewish lady when I first started Sprint and I remember her telling me her thoughts regarding it. It impressed me so that I have wanted to go ever since. It's emotional - somber. My eyes were widened and had thoughts go through my mind that really never occurred to me. My heart goes out to all who were subjected.

I would have liked to have heard my grandpa's memories as he was there and had seen the disgust. Though I don't think that's something he'd care to talk about. I tried bringing it up with him yesterday, Father's Day, as I spoke my thoughts and reactions to what I'd seen. Even though he listened and didn't say anything I could tell memories went through his mind as his eyes told me. As I get older and understand more - that's something I can respect. I know that certain memories can trigger uneasy feelings that we don't want to think about we'd rather forget. For me, that's ok.