Sometimes, the unexpected comes knocking on your door. Literally. There are love and friendship and then there is that sought after friends til the end, cradle to grave. One that knows me so well, they don't need a phone call to summon their presence. They go to the airport, board a plane and arrive at my doorstep. The time difference is there with many, many miles between us.

Everybody has their person. I have three. There is one that came, but, it was a single mission of mercy on their part. Perhaps it was in a piece of conversation we had or it could have been what I wasn't saying. But, there it was. There was a piece of me that needed a friend, another heart to whisper to.

Coffee first. I breathe. Just a little. With the passage of time we talk, then we talk more. There is laughter and then there are tears. There is a heart that breaks a little, but, nobody has a broken heart.

@coff33a will almost always create a #SublimeSunday. You heard it here.

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We start our visit at Arlington National Cemetery. Always. Today we walk over towards section 60, the newest site with people that were in Iraq, Afghanistan and other conflicts in that part of the world. The graves are fresh and the grief is new. There are others, such as where my father is buried where they are interspersed with the older, but every marker is a person (or two if there is a spouse) and there are large monuments where whole airplane crews or large patrols are buried together.

We leave some flowers on one of the graves. But, there is a part of me that wants to leave some for every one of these people that gave up their lives so that we could live ours freely. I don't want to get into a debate with anyone about that sentence or that philosophy. I am all about peace and I dislike war terribly. That is all I want to say about that.

Oddly enough, we all have an association with the Air Force, although none of us grew up under the spell. We were solidly civilian and very happy in it.

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We decide on Old Ebbitt Grill for a nice brunch. I adore its 1920's era architecture, but, mostly, I like the atmosphere. It gives us more time to talk, far and away from the reality of life for the moment.

I have always loved the way the press has always referred to it as a dining saloon. Really Press Corps? There isn't anything remotely saloon-ish about this place. I think they have the best selection of oysters in Washington, DC and for the tourist in you, it is mere steps from the White House.

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History Lesson of the Day

Our first president, George Washington, selected the site for the White House in 1791. The cornerstone was laid in 1792 and a competition design submitted by Irish-born architect James Hoban was chosen. After eight years of construction, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved into the unfinished house in 1800. During the War of 1812, the British set fire to the President’s House in 1814. James Hoban was appointed to rebuild the house, and President James Monroe moved into the building in 1817. During Monroe’s administration, the South Portico was constructed in 1824, and Andrew Jackson oversaw the addition of the North Portico in 1829. During the late 19th century, various proposals were made to significantly expand the President’s House or to build an entirely new house for the president, but these plans were never realized.

Every president since John Adams has occupied the White House, and the history of this building extends far beyond the construction of its walls. From the Ground Floor Corridor rooms, transformed from their early use as service areas, to the State Floor rooms, where countless leaders and dignitaries have been entertained, the White House is both the home of the President of the United States and his family, and a museum of American history. The White House is a place where history continues to unfold. See here

Long story short, we stopped by the White House for a moment or three. I know, it is so touristy, but, I do it. Every. Single. Time.

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I am so fortunate to live in one of the most beautiful cities in the United States. It is rich in history and the Neoclassical architecture style circle around the Federal and Greek Revival style that is also there. The monuments are everywhere, paying tribute all day long. We meander on this beautiful day, the sun is shining, a nice break from all the rain. It was another perfect day. In so many ways, it was better than perfect.

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It is so hard to find a place to stop. I love this city. Every time I think I have seen it all, I find a little nugget of wonder that I have never seen. Always looking up because the sidewalk can be grungy- and there is something remarkable just waiting to be seen. The Department of Commerce just for @old-guy-photos and #MonochromeMonday.

It was very much indeed a #BeautifulSunday which has been introduced to me by @ace108. I want to thank you for hosting this wonderful challenge. It goes without saying that my day was a complete surprise to me, but, it was so welcome. It is hard to explain what these girls mean to me, and even harder to explain to them. I love them dearly. For the record, if there is a knock at my door, I will always answer it. You just never know if it will be that one person that you needed on the other end of that hand.

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¸.•´¸.• ♥*¨)
(¸.•´ ♥ (¸.´ ♥

Countless moons from yesterday
I let you in the door to my thoughts
Trapped in my head, I release them to you
To hold until the crowd of words dissipates.

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One last flower. I insist!

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¸.♥´¸.•♥¨) Let the sun shine in on your life
So the joy may touch your soul
(¸.•´♥ (¸.•´ ♥

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