I landed my first job as a writer after about a year after my last job. I think everyone gets that euphoric feeling when they get a job they were hoping for, “I won!” I beat out all the others in line and I’m finally getting my shot at a cool opportunity.
When I got that call and accepted the position, there was nothing else to do, but go on vacation to celebrate. I had two weeks before I was scheduled to start, I had some money saved up, and I always wanted to get back to Washington DC since my first trip there in 2002. The first time was too short-lived and I left knowing I wanted to go back.
I spent a couple of days planning it while I did a couple of the ‘new hire’ formalities requested by the company. This allowed me a little time to investigate and set up reservations at the first hotel I would stay at. From there I thought I’d just wing it.
I knew I wanted to go to all the places I missed in the first round and see some others I really enjoyed.
JFK
One of my first places on the list was Arlington National Cemetery. The first time I was there I didn’t get to visit the grave of JFK. I knew the second time around I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.
It was, unfortunately, touristy. Everyone there, beating others out of the way for a selfie in front of the dead president’s grave. I just sat back and awaited my turn to get somewhere I could see something.
It’s actually very impressive. It’s not just a grave site, but an entire monument built around the grave. I’m a history junkie, so I’ve done some reading about the man and was honored to be there to pay my respects. I’m not so sure about others who elbowed people out of the way to get that perfect Instagram moment in front of the landmark. The laughable joke of it was I could almost hear some of them say, “Who is this again?”
I guess when you go to tourist locations you can expect typical tourist reactions. These are the same people who would go to Egypt and ask if they could go and see, ‘those triangle things.”
Well, I wouldn’t have titled this article the dead president’s tour without involving more presidents.
Lincoln
One of the next stops on the tour was a trip to Ford’s Theater. For those of the not knowing crowd, this was the place President Lincoln was assassinated. Across the street is Petersen’s Boarding house where he took his last breath. I had been here years before and they changed it. Years ago I remember the basement set up as a museum to house many Lincoln artifacts. Now, it had been transformed into one of these interactive display-type museums; much less catering to the hardcore enthusiast and much me catering to the family vacation-type crowd.
I left disappointed.
Years ago you could get into the main area of seating to get a great view of the balcony and a real feel you were sitting in a holy place on the American history tour.
After the basement, we were ushered into the balcony for a short talk, and photo opportunity. But something just didn’t sit right with me.
I was looking forward to this experience on the trip, but I left disappointed.
Adams
After I left DC I went up to Boston, then decided to head down the coast to a little town called Quincy. Quincy wasn’t supposed to be on my trip, but when I started driving on the morning after my Boston stop, it seemed just natural to head that way.
You history buffs already know what Quincy is famous for, but for you non-history people, it was the hometown of our second and sixth presidents of the United States. John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams were born here and lived here while they weren’t engaged in public office or traveling the world pulling in allies to help us build this great nation we live in now.
After taking a tour of their homes, I decided to walk around the town a little.
I came across a church with a placard on the wall stating that this was the final resting place of these two great presidents. This was not touristy, with no elbowing glamor shots, just an indiscreet church in the middle of town. I made my way inside and was greeted at the door by a woman at a table who looked especially bored. She asked me if I wanted a tour of the church.
“Sure, sounds like fun.”
She took me in and showed me around the church. If you could call it a tour group, I was the only one.
I thought at one point, she said it was still an active church. We went around and at one point she said, “You look a bit tired, why don’t you have a seat.” She opened the pew door and ushered me in. I sat down and her finger pointed to a small brass placard on the back of the bench in front of me.
It simply read “Adams.”
I was sitting in the Adams family pew they sat in for many Sundays throughout history. Did I mention I was a history buff? A small brush with greatness in such a quiet setting was one of the highlights of my trip to that point.
After that, she said she had a little extra time, so we should go down and pay our respects.