Day in DC

I had my first driving experience in DC last week. Let's just say that it was interesting... I had to take my mom to Dulles and then I was going to drive straight home. We thought the drive to the airport would take about an hour (since it wasn't during rush hour) and she would be at the airport an hour and 45 minutes early. We knew as soon as we got on the freeway that things weren't going to go so well. It was pouring rain and all of the freeway seemed like one big construction zone. It ended up taking us just over two hours to get there! I kept praying in my heart that we would be able to get to the airport on time. Thankfully, my mom got to her gate just seven minutes before they started boarding.

Instead of instantly thanking Heavenly Father for getting me there safely as I should have done, I began to pat myself on the back for mastering the infamous DC freeways. Well, I wasn't more than five minutes into my journey home when I missed my exit onto the 495 South (top left corner of map). Isn't it funny how the Lord works? There were no more exits for several miles and I was forced onto the 66 East where the traffic and construction really started to thicken. There I was...on a freeway I'd never heard of, heading in an unfamiliar direction, with no map or GPS system. I decided to take the first exit I came to and use the city streets to get me back to the 495 South. I found myself in the Falls Church area (very beautiful by the way). I drove around on the curved roads for awhile trying to get my bearings straight, but there is a funny thing about driving in Virginia: It is extremely easy to get mixed up. The trees are so tall and thick that you really can't see any landmarks or mountains that might help you keep north from south. So, I started to doubt myself and kept changing directions. I crossed under the 66 but I knew I didn't want to get back on it because of the traffic. After about 20 minutes, I finally swallowed my pride, asked for forgiveness, prayed for help, and called my trusty father-in-law:

Me: Mike? I'm lost...in DC...
Mike: (laughs) Where are you?
Me: Williamsburg and Sycamore...in Arlington I think
Mike: (pause, obviously looking at BlackBerry) Oh my goodness! Do you want the scenic route or the quick route? (Of course I choose the quick route and he proceeds to give me directions to get to the 50 West and head back to 495 South)

Well, I don't know how, but somehow I screwed up a second time and got stuck on a one way street that was taking me in the opposite direction from where I'd been told to go. It curved me around a bit and I was 100% lost again. I was really starting to feel frustrated (as was Jack--he kept telling me he had "numb bum") when all of the sudden I find myself on a bridge going over the Potomac river and staring straight at the beautiful Washington Monument.

I guess my sentimental side took over for a minute, because the most awesome feeling came over me that I was not lost at all and I just started crying. It was just so beautiful and in that moment I have never felt more proud to be an American. After I gained control of my emotions, I decided to give Father-in-law another call:

Me: Mike? Um...I'm on Constitution Ave...looking at the Washington Monument. 
Mike: (laughs, a lot) How did that happen?
Me: I need new directions home. This time from downtown DC.

Thankfully, I quickly found my way to familiar signs that pointed my way home. By the time I got home, I had been in the car for over four hours and traveled only 120 miles. I don't know why, but for some reason I have zero desire to ever go to that airport again.

Lessons learned:
1. Always say "thank you" for blessings
2. Keep a map in the car at all times
3. Keep in good standing with Father-in-law