Sanity Prevails!!

Sat. Oct. 30: What a Day!!! We got up and had eggs for breakfast since we had no idea when we’d eat again. While I took a shower, Marv talked to Elliott. They agreed that we would meet at the Wicks’ house and leave for the Metro together by 10:30. That was later than Marv had planned but then we ended up leaving the campsite about 10:30, so it became even later. We drove the 6 of us in our truck to West Falls Church station and encountered a mass of humanity. Thanks to Kathy’s directions we went through the bottom floor of the parking garage and found a spot to park next to the fence, where as other people were filling in the parking garage. We walked over and got in a line that people were saying was about 45 minutes to buy passes. It wound from the station down the block and doubled back on itself. Reconciling ourselves to the wait and treating it as the beginning of the rally, we talked with each other and others in line and enjoyed checking out the posters and costumes. I was in touch with both Ken and Linda through texting so they kept us apprised of what was happening at the Mall. After waiting more like an hour we were getting close to the station building when people who had been in line ahead of us began coming back out of the station saying that the cars were arriving crammed full and that there were thousands of people waiting on the platform, unable to get on the trains. Our plan to go to the other side and ride out and then back in was thwarted when we realized that others closer to town were doing the same thing so those cars were full, too. As we discussed our options we realized that we weren’t even seeing train cars pull up to the station. Just as we entered the station they announced that one of the Mall area stations had been closed because of a suspicious package. By then it was 1:00 or so (the rally had begun at 12:00) and we decided there was nothing to be done but to drive down to the Mall and try to find a parking spot near where Kathy had once worked. Once we got rolling the traffic wasn’t really awful and it felt more productive to be moving. It took a lot of searching but then Marv found a place on 4^th street, about 7 blocks from the Mall. We entered the mass of the crowd right near where the giant stage was set up. We joined the throngs of people and tried to work our way closer to see and hear what was happening. But it soon became apparent that we’d never make it so we headed across Virginia Street to where we could see giant speakers. In an instant we lost Jan and Lou but decided we couldn’t possibly find them so we’d just have to hope they’d meet us back at the truck. Cell phones did us no good at all, since the band width was apparently overwhelmed by too many hits. (We never could get in touch with Hank or Chuck and Mary so we didn’t know what was happening with them.) Luckily, as we walked along in the barely moving crowd, I happened to look up and see Lou and Jan. Our little sextet crossed the sidewalk, went under some trees and found a spot where we could sometimes see a bit of two of the giant screens that were showing what was happening on the stage and we could hear very clearly. As we settled in, Steven Cobert and Jon Stewart were beginning their “debate” on Sanity VS Fear. It was both amusing and provocative as they sparred with words and video but eventually Jon Stewart won and wiped out Cobert and fear. He then spoke inspiringly for several minutes about the meaning of the Rally, John Legend and Roots did a final song, and it was over. But as we made our way back to the truck we were thankful we had made the effort. We left town via the George Washington Parkway with very little delay. Back at their gorgeous house, Elliott had recorded the MSU/Iowa game so we began watching it on his giant projection wall, speeding through the commercials. Sadly, Iowa thoroughly thrashed MSU 39-6. L We ordered Chinese food and had a very enjoyable dinner, talking and laughing until nearly 10:00 when we drove back to the campground.