Snowpocalypse (I am really getting tired of writing this word), Part 8

Yesterday I got sort of a break in the form of getting to go to work! Yay! In the actual office! Yay!

Rachel and I woke up late -- she had told Drew that she and I agreed to go to the National Archives before meeting Daddy downtown because Mommy had to work a late shift at The Post. We sort of staggered around the house -- and I finished up a very quick fact-checking magazine assignment -- until I was able to take a shower (the first time in two days, also the first time in a week that I had worn makeup and dressed reasonably well) and head out. We didn't end up leaving the house until 1, and I had to meet Drew at the paper at 4, but I figured that 90 minutes at a museum was better than no time at all.

At Rachel's suggestion, we took the car to the East Falls Church Metro (thank God there was a parking space, even though the lot said "Full,") and took the train in. We got off at the Archives/Penn Station stop, and headed to the National Archives. Rachel loves looking at the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights -- plus there's lots more to the place, including a way to design your own seal and a TV replay of Eisenhower telling the nation why he sent national troops to enforce the desegregation of Central High School in Little Rock -- and the museum was practically deserted. She was so polite to the security guard, asking him if she needed to put her coat and Metro card on the security belt, that he looked at me and said, "She's more well behaved and polite than most adults we get in here." I made her say "thank you!" to him, which she did.

As we mounted the stairs, she chirped, "I LOVE the National Archives! It's so grand and polished! Especially with my dear, dear Mom."

How can you not love a kid like that?

Anyway, we wandered around for about 90 minutes. The guards were especially chatty -- one told me all about working as a security guard and meeting David Rubenstein at the Covington, Burling law firm -- and then we made a stop in the gift shop. Rachel put a dollar of her own money toward a tiny glass jar containing some stars and a mini Constitution, and I chipped in the rest -- $2 and change -- and bought a long-sleeve T-shirt for myself (I really need more of them). Then I took her back on the Metro to The Post, where we met Drew and I worked until past midnight. Luckily I caught the very last train home.