Harvest's Visit

Like I said before, if you come to visit us then you get a blog post dedicated to your trip :-)  This one is for Harvest.

It was absolutely wonderful to see Harvest again, and it was great to be reminded of how nice it feels to be around family.  We know that many people would love for us to come home for a visit one last time before we leave for India, and, believe me, we would certainly love a little vacation time in the Pacific Northwest, but with Legs' work schedule and our upcoming visitors it just won't be possible.  Unfortunately we won't see many of you until either our R&R during our post to Hyderabad, or on home leave after our India post is over.  We know that there will be many difficult times ahead given the life that Legs and I have chosen, as we will surely miss some momentous occasions.  Although we will face many challenges in maintaining our relationships with family and friends during our lives abroad, I am very proud of Legs for serving her country just as I did in the Marine Corps.  If my family can play even a small role in promoting peace and democracy in the world it is, in my opinion, well worth all of the hardships we will face.  That being said, here is a look at Grandpa Moon's visit...

We started off our adventures with a self-guided tour of the White House.  This was Thumper and my second trip to the White House and, yet again, we failed to see or meet anyone of importance :-(  Nonetheless, it was still a great opportunity to walk through the halls of a place in which so many monumental figures have walked.  They don't allow any cameras at the White House, so we can't share any pictures with you.

The next day, thanks to Harvest's wonderful planning skills, we had the privilege of a guided tour of the Capitol Building by one of Senator Patty Murray's staff assistants.  To put it mildly, the Capitol Building was far more appealing to look at than the White House.  The art and architecture is phenomenal, and having a guided tour is a wonderful way to learn some interesting little facts.

Our first big photo opportunity was a trip to Gettysburg, PA.  The countryside was beautiful, and the trip there was almost as enjoyable as the destination.  We stopped for lunch in town at a haunted inn and tavern called The Farnsworth House.  We then stopped by the Visitor's Center to plan out our route to see some Civil War battlefield sites.  It was incredible to drive by open fields with makeshift barriers built out of rock and dirt and to see cannons littered everywhere.  It is surreal to think of the carnage that took place in such a beautiful place.  We made our way to the Gettysburg National Cemetery, where President Lincoln gave the infamous Gettysburg Address.

Canons lined up near the Gettysburg National Cemetery

A beautiful poem at Gettysburg National Cemetery

The Soldiers' National Monument

Small number markers to represent some of the lives lost

A small portion of the headstones at Gettysburg National Cemetery

Later during Harvest's visit Thumper, Harvest, and I went on a boat tour along the Potomac River.  It was short, but provided a great look at some of the Washington DC monuments and bridges along with an interesting narration.

Arlington Memorial Bridge

The Lincoln Memorial with the Washington Monument in the background

The Washington Monument

Arlington Memorial Bridge and the Lincoln Memorial

It was truly wonderful to have Harvest come visit before our departure for India, and I am very grateful that Thumper was given the opportunity to enjoy some time with him.  It is so refreshing to see a familiar face while we are living in an entirely new environment.  Harvest has always been so supportive of me in all of my endeavors; I am very lucky to have him in my life, and now to have him in my wife and son's lives as well.  You're an amazing person, and I don't know where I would be without your influence and guidance.

Happy Travels!

Pancho