A warm place to stretch out!

A memory is a mental video clip that changes with time. And while you might recall a physical detail of an event, such as: “I remember my stomach hurt during that party,” those are just words. Fortunately you won’t be able to re-experience the belly ache in the same way that you can bring to mind a visual memory of the party. So yes, it’s a video clip, but it’s not completely accurate and it can change.

I mention all this because I’m back home in California now where today’s high was a sunny 60 degrees. But the event I’m remembering (from last Tuesday’s Inauguration) took place in 30 degree temperature. In my mind’s eye, I can picture my freezing self, but, thankfully, I can’t actually remember how cold I was.

When David and I exited the National Mall after President Obama’s Inaugural Address we headed for the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Why go there? Because we’d done our homework and knew that a) it was going to be open b) it was free to get in and c) they were expecting lots of visitors who needed shelter from the cold.

The Air and Space Museum is amazing. Large, warm, light filled, with beautiful old airplanes hanging from the ceiling, space race artifacts and so much more. On first arriving, we were particularly impressed with the clean warm bathrooms, the warm food court serving warm food, the expanse of nice warm carpeted floor to stretch out and warm up on. Did I mention that the Air and Space Museum is warm inside? 

After we rested, picnicked on energy bars, cranberry juice, pretzels, and apples… checked email on our iPhone and basically thawed out and recovered our senses… we wandered around a bit and took in some of the exhibits. Here’s what we saw…

Hanging out in front of the Lunar Lander

Douglas DC-3 (top-center)

Nice place to rest

Full-scale reproduction of the Jupiter-C launch vehicle with models of the Explorer I and other satellites

Thawing out

Skylab Orbital Workshop, backup flight unit

Too tired to raise the flag

German V2 Rocket

I’d like to go back and visit the Air and Space Museum the next time I’m in DC and really check out the exhibits. Obviously it’s a unique place with a lot more going for it than a good heating system. I’m also guessing that next time it won’t be quite so crowded.