Washington DC

I didn't realize what a southern town Washington, D.C. was until I visited New York City. I held tightly to my suitcase as I walked around Penn Station. I was on my way to visit a friend on Long Island in Amityville. I longed to see Manhattan, but was afraid. I felt like Polly Anna was thought I would surely look like an easy mark for the unsavory characters. Since then, I've visited New York City and it's many burroughs a number of times and loved the experience. But, there is no place like home.

I love Washington, D.C. because it is my home. There is no other place that I'd rather live. It's far from perfect, though. There is too much pride and too much prejudice at times. Too many people are poor and hungry. Some schools among half a million dollar homes have free and reduced lunch populations over 70%, no air conditioning on sweltering 90 degree days, and drop-out rates around 50%. Alcohol and illegal drugs have destroyed neighborhoods, families, and lives. Those are the things that concern me.

But every cloud has it's silver lining. And even if you look on the map, you will find that Washington,D.C. is a diamond in the rough. The good outweighs the bad. There are many people who truly care. They share time, money, and most importantly of themselves. There are dreams as basic as just having a job to aspirations of being President. There are everyday heroes who have overcome incredible odds. Sometimes, their contributions to society have been not to hurt others as they have been hurt. And to many people that is an incredible gift!

We are urban, suburban, and rural. There are apartments, townhomes, single family homes, and mansions. There are streets, alleys, and avenues. There are creeks, two rivers, dozens of fountains, and thousands of trees. We have beaver, foxes, hawks, red winged black birds, owls, deer, rabbits, snakes, crows, sparrows, starlings, and woodpeckers. There are four seasons with cool breezes and brightly colored leaves; cold winds and blankets of snow; delicate cherry blossoms and a gently flowing river; and hot summer days with crystal blue skies. And sometimes the artist of all artists, paints a beautiful sunset of lavenders, oranges, blues, and pewters. Though not as common as in my youth, we have the occassional rainbow.

And there are hundreds if not thousands of gardeners. On balconies people grow roses, corn, and tomatoes. In plots around Federal buildings, museums, schools, and neighborhoods, you will find collard greens, green beans, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, onions, scallions, lettuce, egg plant, cabbage, brocoli, and cauliflower. There are several streets where individuals and communities have created bouquets of flowers large and small from the delicate blossoms of honey suckle to towering sunflowers ten feet tall.

Washington, D.C. is also the center of our government, a place where many of the museums are still free, and a food court of delicacies from around the corner to around the world. We have China Town, Adams Morgan, and the Water Front. You can choose from fresh bone fish sandwiches to fajitas to veggie burgers to samosa to borsh. We have NASA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Commerce which houses the National Aquarium. It is small compared to the aquariums of Baltimore, Chicago, and La Jolla. But we have sharks, turtles, alligators, and glow in the dark fish. Even though thousands visit our zoo to see the pandas from China, my favorite is still the American Bison or buffalo.

Most of the time, people only hear the bad news of my hometown. But, I want you to know that there is good news everyday as well. There are also many good people whom I am glad to call friend and neighbor.

Seledia S

Submitted: Sunday 25th January 2004, 11:12 PM

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