A day off in Maryland

It's unusual that community concert locations are near a metropolitan area. But that's what happened when we were "booked" in Linthicum, MD and Severna Park. Linthicum is near the Baltimore, MD airport and Severna Park is only 15 minutes away. We had the luxury of not having to move between concerts which afforded us a day off. We drove 45 minutes to Washington DC and Mt Vernon, home of George and Martha Washington.
What I wouldn't give for more leaders like George Washington. I am not speaking of leaders serving as President but of leaders in every capacity. Leaders in politics and leaders in business. Leaders in the community and leaders at home. When President Washington was elected as President, he was truly serving his country. He was humble. He had such reverence from other leaders in our new country that they wanted him to serve in the capacity of king. He could have been a king and started a new monarchy. But he chose a route of humility and wanted the citizens of our new country to govern. Upon being offered the position of king, he replied, " I have just finished defeating a king (King George), why would I want to be one?" I admire his humility and self restraint and control.
I didn't realize it until our visit to Mt Vernon but a vast amount of his time was dedicated to creating the job description of President. He was made President so now what is he supposed to do? Simple questions such as how is he supposed to be addressed to organizinf the chain of command. Amazing!
The portrait that we see on the dollar bill was completed shortly after dentures were made for him. His cheeks are puffy in the portrait on the dollar bill. He suffered with chronic teeth problems all of his life.





After Mt Vernon we visited the amazing National Cathedral. Unfortunately we could not enter the main portion of the cathedral as it was closed. We arrived too late because of my inability to navigate Washington DC streets. I am used to a grid system. I haven't caught on to the Washiington DC system. The roads are about as efficient as the government that originates from there. The Nationl Cathedral is something that we are not going to miss if we are in Washington DC again. Absolutely stunning!
We also visited the newly constructed World War II Memorial. The veterans of World War II and of all of our wars possess the same charachter as George Washington, a sacrificial heart.
One of the portions of our concerts is my 401(K) song. It gets the biggest response of anything that I do. It's the timing of it all and what is going on currently in our capital city. And speaking of timing, we passed Fannie Mae by coincidence.

"Citigroup and AIG,
There's Bear Stearns and Detroits Big Three
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,
You're givin' me a heart attack.
You don't know where your money went
so ask for help from the government.
Guys like me we'd be in jail.
Unlike banks that are too big to fail."