Reunited, the trip of a lifetime

Old Jul 7th, 2009, 08:37 AM
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Reunited, the trip of a lifetime

Who we were: My brother and I

Where we stayed: The Lorien Hotel, part of the Kimpton Group. This is a very modern, attractive hotel at 1600 King St. The lobby area is comfortable and many different newspapers were available for guests. Free coffee and tea are served in the morning and water and fruit juice are offered in the evening. Front desk service is polished and friendly. The beds are comfortable and have high quality linens. The room was good sized and came with a computer already set up to allow free internet access and several information sites. It also had a large flat screen television. The bath amenities were Le Occitane, very nice. It is close to the Metro and the Masonic monument. We had intended to use the free bikes to ride part of the Potomac trail but the weather was not good. Fortunately Old Town is a great place for walking, the perfect exercise after the special hell that is holiday traffic on I-95.

I used the spa for a facial treatment. I arrived about twenty minutes before the appointment time. I was shown the changing area and lockers and left to change. When the attendant returned she apologized that she could not open the doors to the spa lounge and treatment areas. She asked me to wait in the bathroom until Maintenance arrived. This took about thirty or so minutes. After the maintenance staff fixed the door, I was shown into the relaxation area. It is very nicely decorated in blues and greens with bamboo. The esthetician very quickly suggested that I get a different treatment without mentioning that there was a cost differential of over $50. I told her that I preferred to stick with the treatment booked. The treatment was nice and the esthetician, Judy, had a very light touch. I went to shower after the treatment. There was hair all over the shower walls, so I passed on that. I would not give the spa good marks for cleanliness or service.

Where we ate: Not long after we started our walk we realized we were starving. We stopped in at Jackson 20 in the Hotel Monaco 480 King St. Wow, what a great dinner. The food was very well presented and tasted wonderful. I highly recommend the scallop appetizer, which was simply fantastic. The service was professional and prompt.
For brunch the next day we got a little rushed and went to Le Pain Quotidien at 701 King St. It was perfect. We had tartines which were very tasty and light. I would have loved to have the prosecco, but it was a little too early in the day. Next trip.

Thanks to the helpful posters who suggested restaurants for me.

Why we went: We took our mother’s ashes to be interred with Dad in Arlington National Cemetery.

A little bit of the story:

My mom entered nursing training in 1932. She was 18. One night she and her roommate were mourning the absence of prospects for husbands. Her roommate suggested they say a novena asking for special guidance when the right man came along. They went to the chapel to say their novena to St. Theresa (at least that was the saint's name Mom recalled ).

My dad enlisted in the Army in 1942. He was 19 years old . Very soon after his enlistment he was sent to Camp Gordon, GA. On routine maneuvers he got a horrible case of poison ivy and was hospitalized.

My mom, by then 27, was his Army nurse. He was instantly smitten, she was not. He pleaded with her for a date. She refused until he just wore her down. They went to dinner and he dropped her off at her barracks. He claimed he overheard her tell her friends “That man is the cutest fellow I have ever dated, but he never stops talking.” He begged her for another chance, promising not to talk so much. She finally agreed and he overslept, missing the date. Again he found himself begging. Again she agreed to go to dinner with him. Over dinner he proposed. She declined “I hardly know you. How can we get married?” She told me that as she said that she felt the presence of St. Theresa who told her this was the man she sent and Mom needed to say yes. So, she took the ultimate leap of faith. They married in July 1942. They were often separated by his combat tours and special duty. She was the center of his life and he, the center of hers. Only days before his death in 1964 he wrote her a love letter telling her how much life with her had meant to him.

After he died she spent several years finding her new direction in life. She became a traveler. She spent every spare dollar she had on trips. Even after she had a stroke fourteen years ago she continued to travel with my husband, brother and me as long as she could. For her ninetieth birthday she asked to go to Epcot since she loved the China exhibit so and she knew she wouldn’t make it all the way to China.

She died this past June. My brother and I selected their sixty seventh wedding anniversary for the interment of her ashes with Dad in Arlington National Cemetery. The Army chaplain who handled the service met with us and spent a considerable amount of time learning about my parents and their lives. We were led to the grave site where we met the military personnel escorting her ashes. The service was touching and very intimate. I was so affected by how the chaplain had woven the details of their lives into his eulogy. At the conclusion of the service he thanked us for the privilege of being a part of honoring them. It was a solemn and respectful tribute to two very quiet lives. It is deeply gratifying to know that their sacrifices and sense of duty and purpose served the greater good and they rest in a place of honor.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 08:46 AM
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This is so touching, so moving .. I can't stop weeping ( watery smile here)...

Thank you so much for sharing this, and I love Kimpton Hotels ..

besos ..
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 08:55 AM
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Beautiful story. Your brother and you are so wonderful in sharing this special time together.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 09:00 AM
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Tears are pouring. Thanks for sharing their wonderful love (and marriage) story. You and your brother are so very lucky. God has blessed you all. I'm glad you've inherited your mom's traveling gene.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 09:53 AM
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Oh lawsy I'm bawling! What a bittersweet story!
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 09:56 AM
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cmcfong, thank you for sharing such a lovely and touching story of your parents. I have tears in my eyes.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 10:07 AM
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Wow, what a love story! I am glad you stayed in my town (well, almost, I live a few neighborhood over from Old Town but still consider it "our town") during your stay. We used to live right next to the Masonic monument and our kids sledded on the hills on the side of the monument in winter. Love that area. I have eaten at the Lorien hotel's restaurant but not the Hotel Monaco's, will have to try that one.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 10:20 AM
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>>It was a solemn and respectful tribute to two very quiet lives. It is deeply gratifying to know that their sacrifices and sense of duty and purpose served the greater good and they rest in a place of honor.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 10:20 AM
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cmcfong--You owe me a new box of kleenex I have been crying for a couple of days, and then to read this beautiful love story started me in once again. Seriously though, what a story. And how nice that your brother and you were able to get together and do this.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 10:51 AM
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Dear cmcfong, I see that I am not the only one feeling weepy after reading your beautiful post in honor of your mother and father and their life together and your mother's strong will to continue with her life after your dad died. Hugs to you dear one and thank you for sharing such a beautiful story.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 10:52 AM
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Wow, what a fabulous story, definitely brought a tear to my eye too! I love true romance!
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 11:00 AM
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What a lovely story and tribute to your parents and their dedication to each other.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 01:17 PM
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Thank you so much for your kind comments. I am so glad the story touched you. Losing her meant losing him again. I miss them.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 02:01 PM
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I just put in my trip report this morning about how many untold stories there are at Arlington. Thanks for sharing yours.

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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 02:05 PM
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I'm crying too. Thanks for sharing this.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 02:07 PM
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Thanks so much for telling us the story of your parents. How wonderful to have a marriage full of so much love!
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 02:35 PM
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Dear cmc... if you ever want to tell any stories about the travels and exotic ( or not) places you all lived in, I am all ears
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 02:51 PM
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What a lovely way to honor your parents. Thanks so much for posting, cmcfong.

Lee Ann
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 03:06 PM
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A wonderful love story---your parents for each other, and you for both of them.

Thank you.
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Old Jul 7th, 2009, 05:02 PM
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I have decided that I want to be like your mom and travel as long as I have the money and ability and then my great grandchildren can wheel me around Disney if they want to. Your mom had the right idea ! and she had 2 wonderful children..
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