This trip has been years in the mind and months in the planning, so to land in DC felt a bit like a dream. Levi had flights booked to head to DC in April of 2020. The pandemic hit in March leaving those plans uncertain at first and then completely cancelled for the foreseeable future. But a bit over two years later and here we are!
Levi left 10 days ahead of me for the main work part of his trip and managed to get to see and do a few things in between his work. He got to the Smithsonian and also got to crew on his friends sailboat. I arrived late on Saturday night a bit worse for wear after the last leg of my flight was cancelled and I as left in limbo on the standby list. I made it in the end but without my bags for the next 24 hours. I was just grateful to be there with Levi and have a bed to sleep in after such a massive journey. Flying still isn't quite what it once was but I made it!
We were up early for breakfast with Mitch and Yolanda first thing the next morning. They had both flown in to see Levi and had spent the day before together. It had been 12 years since Levi had seen Mitch and 4 since seeing Yolanda so it was a sweet reunion and really wonderful for 3 of the 5 Catton's to be together again. The morning went by in a flash catching up on so much over juice and pastries in a nearby cafe. With so much time since seeing each other we all are a lot older and the years had bought their trials and tragedies. It felt so good to connect and speak openly and make talk of hopes and plans for the future. Hopefully a full Catton reunion isn't too far off.
I left the Cattons together to meet my friend from Halifax, Nicole Nield, who now lives in Virginia and drove 4 hours so that we could spend some time together. She arrived at 12 and after all the hugs and gushes and taking each other in, we were off to see DC and spend some time together. Nicole has always been so much fun and being with her again was the best. We spent the afternoon at the American History Museum with the highlights being the first ladies dresses, Dorothy Gale's ruby slippers and Julia Child's kitchen. There was lots of sitting in comfy chairs reconnecting and talking of all the things, family, marriage, life. It was magic and the time that I have missed and craved with her. That night we went to a local Italian restaurant with lots of eating and talking and then we met up with Levi and carried on for dessert. Nicole had seen a local dessert place Milk, famous for 'cereal milk' on the Jimmy Fallon show so we made our way there. Turns out Nicole, excited to try it, actual hates the taste of cereal milk, only remembering this on this first taste. It was magic to see the realisation, ha ha. And it was really awful! I tried the sugar pie which was intensely sweet but a good pick.
The next day we set out early and shared a perfect breakfast of omelette and pancakes on a patio watching all the DC Monday morning commuters pass us by. We were keen to rent the street scooters and see the city but in the end we opted for bikes which was a fun throwback to missionary days and a good choice in the end. Nicole never rode a bike on her mission which was clearly a mission oversight! We rode past all of the DC monuments, making our way around the Mall and taking in the Lincoln memorial and that famous and amazing view over the pond. We took a break from our ride and sat in the shade and caught up on all the things we hadn't got to yet, time running out. It was hard to know our time was so short but it was such an awesome 24 hours together. On the ride back to the hotel we even passed a protest, so we had the full DC experience together. It was definitely a see you later for us. A girls trip is in our future.
I'd only said my goodbyes to Nicole when I walked around the corner to meet Chablis. It felt like only yesterday I'd seen Chablis but it had been a year since she had returned to the US from Canberra. We had an afternoon together and headed over to Georgetown for a long catch up lunch and then lining up for famous Georgetown cupcakes which really were that good. We spent the afternoon talking, shopping, exploring - catching up on all the details of life we's missed. Georgetown really is a gorgeous town. Without plans we drove for awhile and had just enough time before closing to spend sometime in the Renwick Gallery which really was stunning. Perfect photo ops to capture the moment there too, also Chablis is a Queen at the selfie, much cooler than me! The Renwick was right up the road from the White House which was very cool to see, though much smaller in person than the movies. It had been a big day and my cup was so so full. There is nothing like spending time with dear friends and seeing them in such good places in their lives, content and self assured. Nicole and Chablis are both very intelligent, capable, fun women and just being in their presence filled me with so much joy. I am so grateful to have these women in my life and the inspiration they are to me.
I was contemplating crawling into bed but at the last minute but decided to go and meet Levi at his work dinner where I got to try bison which made the effort totally worth it. As well as getting to spend some time with Levi who I hadn't seen all that much of yet. The dinner marked the end of his work in DC. Tomorrow we would be off on the train to New York ready for the next adventure together.
It was a whirlwind few days full of family, friends and so much love all with the backdrop of the beautiful city of Washington DC. My heart was about bursting. It had been so many years but it was as if no time had passed as all. I guess that's how it is with Kindred Spirits - always together in spirit.
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