Yesterday my son Zach and I left the hotel in Silver Spring about 0930 and headed down Georgia Avenue through Maryland, into DC and down to the Mall. Well, I thought I was heading down Georgia avenue. Actually, I headed ‘up’ Georgia Avenue and didn’t realize I was going the wrong way till I got to Olney. I figured that since I was from here, I couldn’t get lost. Wrong. This was country when I was a kid and now it’s non stop urban/suburban sprawl. Ok. I finally turned my GPS on and when the compass said NORTH… I accepted my mistake. My son, cutting the old man a little slack, said nothing, but smiled knowingly.
Down at the Mall, we found a parking place somewhere in the midst of a hundred thousand motorcycles. I thought about dropping a locating pin on my iPhone, but then eschewed that show of weakness. We were walking over the the public bathrooms at the Lincoln Memorial when I heard a bagpipe being played in a field nearby. Then a docent was telling the story of the Wall… we stopped to listen. Maya Lin, the architect who designed this most touching of monuments, is from Athens, Ohio. Her story is amazing enough, but the work she created exposes a nerve from that most turbulent of times that defined my generation. We see deeply into that deep cut that wounded America, and we come away healed.
There were Vets… children of Vets, grandchildren of Vets… Folks from around the world, people like Zach and me… touching beyond words. It is 0625. I’m going to wake Zach in an hour or so and we’ll mount up and head back downtown to watch Rolling Thunder… The Run To The Wall!
This time, I’ll go in the right direction.
Smart kid, that Zach. Just file for future use.
“but the work she created exposes a nerve from that most turbulent of times that defined my generation. We see deeply into that deep cut that wounded America, and we come away healed.” Well said. Anybody who lived through that time was deeply influenced by it. Here’s my best friend’s uncle. I remember him coming home from boot camp in his dress blues. That was the last time we saw him. He showed how to grip a football properly before he left that day. http://www.vvmf.org/thewall/Wall_Id_No=57187
Coen Bros just snatched the Gran Prix at Cannes.
“ Inside Llewyn Davis ”
Music wins for all of us.
Thank You Jorma! With your music we go through life in a shining armour.
Steady As She Goes.
hey mang…if you are so inclined,go to youtube and type in ‘jonathan edwards,united by the wall’….pretty great stuff….stay safe…
so curios did any one recognize you?
You, like Marcel Proust, have the ability to recall the past and weave it into the fabric of the present. I guess you do this musically as well and always have.
Dear Jorma,
Enjoy your time with Zach, he sure sounds like a fine young man!
Looking forward to seeing you at the Winery next Saturday!
Happy and safe travels to you and Zach!
Cyndy
Sorry for misspelling Zach !
Hello JormaK and Zack, I’ve listened to you for a long old time and continue to do so. I certainly never thought you and yours would be the catalyst of this thought of mine. I wish to spirit I had a father let alone one like you. I wish to spirit I had a son as yours and we nurtured such a relationship. Thanks for sharing your journey. Though some may live vicariously, it’s all I have ! Keep the journal coming and Godspeed !
Morning Jorma and Zack. I look forward to reading of your journeys. I listened to your music long ago and continue to do so now. I cetainly never contimplated I would have the following thought generated by JormaK. I enjoy reading of what your doing. I wish to spirit that I had a father, let alone like you. I wish to spirit I had a son and we were as you! Please realize your gift to each other as I’m sure you probably do. Thanks, Rick
Clark Kent Zach is silently on the watch.
Steady As She Goes.