Yesterday, I was brave

[thanate]

I've lived in the greater DC area (mostly near Tysons in Northern VA) for about twenty of my thirty years, and yesterday was the first time I've actually driven in the city. There's a theory that states that if you try driving into DC and don't know where you're going, you will end up five minutes later not only completely lost, but turned around again and driving back out again over the same bridge, with no idea how you got there. This has definitely happened to multiple people I know, although having taken the metro in multiple times, and having been driven in by my parents as a kid, I'm familiar enough with some of the roads that I've helped other people navigate. But yesterday, on fishy1's suggestion, I took 295 through the city (which means taking MD 295 to a brief bit of Rt 50 to reconnect with I-295 which drops you off on the south side of the beltway right by the Wilson Bridge.) There was traffic, there were confusing signs, and it was remarkably not difficult at all.

Of course, since I've managed to drive in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Boston all by myself, as well as various smaller cities, I'm not vastly surprised by this, but it is one of those odd things that I have to remember I can't say anymore.

At any rate, yesterday involved talking to three different people on the phone who I'm not married to, which was not only novel but pleasant, and I should think to call and talk to people sometime. Whether this actually happens... well, we'll see. Also I spent a lovely afternoon with fishy1 which involved wandering around Burke Lake and catching up on various little bits of each other's lives. There should be more of these things at some point, I think. Possibly also more gatherings where we invite the people we would like to see, rather than just settling for others' circles of acquaintance.

Also, a link for the writerly people, regarding the myth of rewriting. There's something to this, I think, although I also feel that some of my so-called first drafts are only half-way through the tinkering-while-writing stage. Hard to say. But... this is also kind of in line with what I want to do with my most recently finished draft.

Comments

[kittymaru.livejournal.com]

I hate driving in DC more than in any other city. Hate. Hate. Hate!

Too many one way streets!