Chapter Seven: Touring Washington, D. C.

Dominica and her loved ones tour Washington, D. C.

Throughout our stay in Washington, D. C., we had many interesting experiences which I still treasure until this very day. We toured the National Zoo and discovered the many unique and exotic birds who showed off to the many onlookers who willingly took pictures of them and the beautiful life. I discovered that even the most homely looking creatures possess beauty in their own right, like the Black Bear which I have encountered. It was the ugliest looking bear I had seen in my life. But it was loveable and beautiful within and of its own right. Although it wasn't the most glamorous animal, it possessed a great deal of innocence like that which is found within every child. The flamingos showed off their grace in return for attention and admiration from the onlookers, the ostriches performed their mating dance to capture the winds encompassing the earth, and the Grey Seal shimmered through the glazed, blue, waters. Let's not forget about the tropical fish that carried an array of emotions that blanketed their bright, multicolored, fins and their entire bodies, and the grey squirrel who just happened to be nearby, getting overlooked by most onlookers who passed him off as a part of the scenery, while he gathered his daily nuts, carrying on without a care in the world.

On the trolley, I had the opportunity to capture a glimpse of the National Postal Museum, the Embassy homes of the world's ambassadors, and the private schools where the former vice president of the United States was enrolled when he was younger. I saw the Ford Theater where President Lincoln had been shot.

The first stop of the tour was at the Lincoln Memorial. Upon walking up to this monument, I gazed up at Abraham Lincoln's face. I felt his presence there, which made me feel deeply moved. From there, the trolley headed to the Vietnam Memorial Statues where the driver in turn let everyone off to look around. We stopped by the statues of the Vietnam vetrans to admire their bravery and to take some snapshots of them.

From the Vietnam Memorial Statues, we walked down to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, as did many others who toured with us. This great wall was electrifying, in the sense that I sort of felt the presence of those who gave their lives in combat. It was a spiritual experience. I could feel this energy all around me. Emotion consumed me, as it did many other admirers who stood before the Vietnam Wall Memorial that day to pay their respects to these bold stallions who crashed and burned only to expand the circle of life. A circle which brings people back together after they have been torn apart. For they had one thing in common. An innocence that was terminated by wrath; a time when children became the parents and their parents became the children. Rejuvenation embraced every vein, every mind, and every heart, which in combination with each other create life.

Author's Note

What do you think of the prose?

Reviews

[Lyndie Bolt aka JustRac..]

Bears aren't ugly- pick something like a baboon. "Although it by far not the most glamorous animal, it possessed a great innocence of spirit as is found within every mother's child. " is more active than what you wrote. In your prose you slip into passive voice to often and the words lose potency in doing it. Don't plop prose in just for "prose" sake. It should be through out your writing, mixed with action and dialogue. Your prose should always have an intention of carrying the story forward. What does this section do for the story? I have no idea yet where this is heading. and I am going towards chapter 7!

Lyn