Traveling Man

Dear Ian,

Spring has sprung, and with it has come a TON of traveling for us as a family. This post is all about the first of those trips: our visit to Washington D.C. at the beginning of April. You see, your Great-Grandpa Graves was a commander in the Navy, and when he passed away, he was given the honor of being buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Your Daddy and I went to his burial, and it was such an incredible experience to see your Great-Grandpa honored in such a way. When Great-Grandpa passed, she was also able to be buried there, and we went again, this time with you, to see her funeral.

We traveled to Washington D.C. via train, and I think you really enjoyed this. For me, it was a much easier experience than traveling by plane, although it took a little longer. We didn't have to worry about lugging your car seat through airport terminals, lay-overs, popping ears or you having a fit in a space about the size of a trash can. Instead, we got a roomette on the train where you could crawl and climb, dinner in the dining car and two (albeit small) beds for us to sleep in and wake up at our final destination. It just made the whole trip less stressful for me, and you can say you've travelled by train.

 Anyhoo, once we arrived, we were able to visit family, and that was a lot of fun. You got to see your Great Aunt Martha and Great Uncle Steve and second cousins Erin, Joseph, Sarah and Sarah's son, Patrick. There were also other family members like your Grandma's cousins and close family friends. It was nice to spend time with them and catch up. You especially liked playing with Patrick.

We were lucky enough to have an extra day while we were there to do some fun family stuff, and we spent that day at the National Zoo! What a neat experience! You loved looking at the animals, and your favorites of the day were the gazelles and the elephants. Grandpa Brooks went with us, and I think he had fun spending that special time with you.

 Great-Grandma's service took place on a Monday, and it was a beautiful day for her. Daddy got up and said a few words to pay tribute to his Grandma, and we said goodbye to an amazing and wonderful lady. We sure do miss her, but now she is resting with Great-Grandpa in one of the most beautiful places in Washington.

I'm very glad that you were able to go with us, although I know you probably wont remember. But that is the reason for this post. It was a remarkable trip, and through this letter to you, I am able to give you this memory of your Great-Grandmother.

 Love you lots, Mommy