One Minute Travel Stories
Life Lessons Learned
Visiting Washington D.C.
With An 85 Year Old Parent
By Anthony Wessel
Copyright © 2010 by Anthony Wessel
Cover
design by Anthony Wessel
Book design by Anthony Wessel
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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Contact me at AnthonyWessel@hotmail.com
Published in the United States of America
First Printing: September 2010
Dedication
My father is a fantastic guy who I cherish and love. I had the privilege to spend hundreds of hours alone with him as a child. Milking cows, doing farm work, playing cards, hunting, and especially fishing. Ralph is a unique individual who has brought happiness and smiles to me countless times, while very rarely bringing me anguish.
That is what makes him special.
The candle he carries in his life always seems to burn bright and never seems like it can be blown out.
Visiting the Lincoln Memorial
Prologue
My father, Ralph Wessel, was born in 1925 on a small farm in central Minnesota where he has lived his entire life. He was a dairy and hog farmer until he retired from farming in the 90’s. He still lives on the same farm with his wife Marlene.
The daily requirements of dairy farming meant that vacations were never really a part of his vocabulary. Vacations consisted of a weekday evening or a Sunday spent at the family lake cabin 10 minutes away from the farm during the summer months.
In the past 10 years he has done a couple of cruises with his wife which has allowed him to see parts of the world beyond Minnesota.
After my 3 day vacation to Santa Cruz with my 85 year old father in February 2010 in which I had so much fun, my wife and I thought it was time to take him to our nation’s capital which he never had a chance to visit.
As usual, the 3 day trip with my 85 year old Dad to Washington D.C. was a life experience that I won’t forget. Ralph is a truly loving and honest man. I love him dearly. His observations and comments about the world around him can be very informational about the life he has lived over the past 85 years.
However, his honesty also provides great content. In this story, I try to balance the humor, laughter, and head-shaking- moments from his comments. Dad, thanks again for another great trip. Hopefully we can do another trip in the future. I love you.
Thanks Grandson
Ralph started his adventure by playing cards with his grandson Brady the night before we left. Thanks to Brady, Ralph started the trip up a few dollars.
Brady gave us a ride to airport for our departure on his way to work. We forgot about his small car along with the fact that we would be bringing a wheel chair with us. We made the wheel chair fit in the backseat along with me. There was no room for our bags in his trunk. Brady seems to like to carry a few “spare items” with him at all times. However like Ralph says, beggars can’t be choosy when it is a free ride.
Assume The Position
This was my favorite line to dad when it was time to move to our next destination. Ralph did a great job getting in and out of his wheel chair. This was ideal for touring around Washington D.C.
I bet he wishes he had some hot woman pushing him around instead of his son.
Security At The Airport.
Going through the security line is always an adventure. Ralph sets off the metal detectors because of the metal components in his body from surgeries. This leads to a full body search with him half compiling with the instructions of the TSA agents because of his “selective hearing” and wearing a hearing aid that seems to be turned off at the most opportune times.
The benefit of a wheel chair did bear fruit right away (besides keeping Ralph from wandering off). We were waiting in line when a Delta representative came up to us and said to follow him. He brought us right up to the front and personally checked us in. We avoided a 15 minute wait in line. Sweet!
Constitution Avenue
And The Woman
As I was pushing the wheel chair down Constitution Avenue, we ended up right behind a beautiful, young lady in heels with a very open and loose flowing dress. The kind of dress which exposes her back, most of her ribs, part of her bottom, and not one hint of undergarments.
I was waiting for the comment and it took less than 5 seconds for Dad not to fail me.
“Wow, look at that dress on that woman.” He said loudly enough for her to hear.
I almost drove his wheel chair right onto Constitution Avenue. Instead I smiled at the woman with a look on my face that said, “I can’t control what he says. He’s 85 years old.”
Reading, Writing, & Arithmetic
“Was Thomas Jefferson a president?”
Dad’s schooling in the 1930’s was about the 3 R’s. Reading, Writing, & Arithmetic. The goal of his country school was to make sure every student learned to read, write, and do math.
He did well in these subjects. This allowed him to “graduate” after 8th grade and start working fulltime on the family farm.
Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
Ralph is a huge fan of planes so our first stop on our Washington D.C. visit was to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.
We went to a couple of the shows at the IMAX theatre including a 3D movie on flight. The 3D was very good and at one point they had animated birds flying right at you. Like any good 3D movie, you need to reach out to try to touch them which Ralph and I both did.
When we were leaving the movie my dad commented. “I liked how they hung those birds by strings in front of us.”
I thought to myself how he always likes to talk about using miniatures (this is an old joke which is an entirely different story). In reflective thought, he experienced movies in his early days where miniatures were commonly used instead of the computer graphics of today.
Maybe the birds were hanging from strings and I just couldn’t see the strings.
Moving Around
Washington D.C.
On occasion we used cabs instead of the Metro train system. This allowed us meet drivers from Ethiopia, Dominican Republic, Atlanta, and the Sudan. While I was interested in their personal story, my dad was commenting on their cars. What kind they were. How many miles (432K was tops). The wear-and-tear on the cab.
Ralph loved hearing them all tell about their experience during the two major D.C. snowstorms in the spring of 2010.
His favorite story was of the cab driver who started driving as a part time job. It got him away from the wife, but his wife knew he did not have a girlfriend on the side because he always came home with money. I think he could relate to this cabbie. Ralph always makes sure he comes home with a few fish from every fishing trip.
We took the D.C. circulator bus a couple of times because the stop was just outside of our hotel. The fare is $1.00 a person with seniors over 60 riding for $0.50 each. The ride was $1.00 for the two of us. My first senior discount and I am not proud of that fact.
At least I am the only member of my family who is not eligible for an AARP membership.
Potomac River Cruise
Dad and I took a 45-minute nighttime boat cruise on the Potomac River. It was pretty with a full moon over the monuments. The cruise was also narrated to give information and facts of some of the buildings that we passed.
The unexpected benefit of the narrated trip? Dad asked about 10 questions during the course of our vacation that I was able to answer because of the info I learned on the cruise.
I am sure he had his hearing aid turned off.
Breakfast at the Hotel
Our breakfast at the Channel Inn Hotel was a cafeteria style line. While your food was being cooked, you selected other breakfast items that you wanted. Ralph, not one who reads the menu, decides to order a omelet along with a fruit plate.
I watch him start filling up his $4.25 fruit plate. He puts a small piece of pealed grapefruit along with single a strawberry. I try to describe to Dad about the fruit plate, but of course his hearing aid is on “selective”. He tells me it sounds good and we should do it sometime today.
We enter the checkout line and the cashier looks at the fruit plate and then at me. I just shrugged me shoulders.
She only charged me $1.00 for the fruit plate.
Visiting The
Washington Monument
While visiting the Washington Monument I was asked the question, “What did George Washington do?”
Again, his schooling in the 30’s was about the 3 R’s. Reading, Writing, & Arithmatic. Ralph ultimately learned a lot about George Washington. Interesting fact we learned was he became our first president in 1789. 13 years after the Declaration of Independence. He also retired and dropped “General” from any reference to him because he did not think our country should be run by a military leader.
On the last night of our trip we went back to the monuments to see them under the lights. What a great view and one that I would highly recommend.
As we sat under the Washington Monument that night the questions started coming. How high is it? Does it sway? How many blocks were used to build it? A quick search on my phone gave him all the answers he needed about the construction of the Washington Monument.
Thanks again phone.
Questions & More Questions
“Is that real?”
For those of you who know Ralph, he is always asking questions about the construction or make up of things. He asked this question or a variation at least 10 times a day.
The good thing is that he answers the question himself about half the time as he touches the item. Chains, benches, cars, streets, trees, steps, and many other things were all on his list.
Sometimes it is just better to listen and not respond.
Speechless At The Museum Of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History has hundreds of stuffed animals, bones, and other exhibits all associated with animals. Livestock on the farm, hunting, or fishing, Ralph has always been around animals all his life.
In the main hall of the museum, suspended from the ceiling, is a life size wright whale. It is quite fascinating to look at. Ralph is sitting in his wheel chair when he turns to me to ask a question.
“Do you think they took all of the guts of it?”
All I can say is I was speechless.
3D IMAX movie with no “strings attached”.
Look closely.
He is looking at planes in the sky.
Checking out the “concrete statue” of Jefferson.
WWII and Washington Memorials.
The Cement Solution
We were in the dome at the Jefferson Memorial looking at a statue of Thomas Jefferson.
“Is it (the statue) made out of poured cement?” He doesn’t believe statues can be carved out of marble.
Once again for those of you who don’t know Ralph, cement was a common solution for many problems on the farm. Cement Solutions may have to be included in his One Minute Farm Stories book.
He Thinks I Carry An Atlas
“Where is Cheasapeake Bay?”
“How many miles to the ocean?”
“What direction does that river flow?”
“Where is Maryland?”
“Where is Dulles Airport?”
I wonder if elementary teachers get these many questions. Thankfully I had answers to these questions and many more along with a map right on my phone.
Taking a smart phone on this trip – Priceless.
Up In The Sky
“Here comes a plane.”
His fascination with planes has no endpoint. Planes follow the Potomac River on their approach to Reagan Airport. If I was to wager on the over/under betting line (75) on how often I heard this comment, I would take the over.
When I returned home I was looking at all of the pictures I had taken of Dad while posing in front of monuments. I could not figure out why he was looking up into the sky in so many of the photos while we were touring the National Mall.
Of course it was the planes.
Riding The Metro
Dad and I did quite well navigating around D.C. on the subway (Metro). I would show him the Metro route map on my phone and it would answer most of his questions.
I think he enjoyed riding the trains especially the couple of times where we just went for a ride to the end of the route. Once you are outside of the downtown D.C. area, the Metro is above ground which gives you a chance to see the city.
When riding the train, most people are quiet and either sleeping, reading, or on their phones. Of course the questions or comments would still keep coming from him in his wheel chair and usually loud enough for people to hear.
Sorry if I ignored some of your questions while riding the Metro.
Touring Washington D.C.
In The Heat
Of the 15 miles or so that I enjoyed (I really did!) pushing my father around in a wheel chair, the toughest day was on Friday when it reached 99 degrees. The hottest September temperature recorded in Washington D.C. history.
We did the walking tour of all the monuments, Bureau of Engraving, went to a fish market, and a museum which was the most walking we did any day.
Back in our hotel room after dinner that night, I found myself still in need of fruit, liquids, and some more nourishment after our little “walk-about” that day. I told Dad I was going to walk the 2 ½ blocks to the grocery store by our Metro stop to pick up the food I so badly needed.
His comment was, “You are crazy to walk all that way.”
I almost walked into the door as I was leaving the hotel room. Even though I was tired, my shoes felt like they had wings as I danced to the grocery store without a wheel chair in my hands for the first time that day.
Why I Might Never Live In A Retirement Village in Florida
Imagine this picture in your mind.
An 85 year old man dressed ONLY in black socks and white underwear. Sitting on the balcony of a hotel room in plain view of the people on the houseboats, cruise ships, and fishing boats floating on the Potomac River.
This is what I found when I came out of the shower after a hot afternoon of site seeing.
Mom, I swear I only let him out of my sight for 5 minutes.
Washington D.C. Buildings
Must Be Old Looking
I was pushing Dad in his wheel chair on Pennsylvania Avenue describing to him how the president is sworn in on the steps of the capital. After the swearing in ceremony, the new president either walks or rides on Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
Ralph comments to me, “Do they still heat these buildings with wood?”
If I was a standup comic my answer should have been “only the White House”.
MIB
We are waiting in line at the car rental counter behind a couple of big, well dressed black men in black suits and white shirts (Think of the movie MIB – Men in Black).
I am standing in my usual position behind my dad in the wheel chair.
Out of the quiet comes the easily heard comment by everyone in the rental car area, “Hey, that big black guy is wearing a gun.”
Both guys turn around and I quickly shrug my shoulders as I explain loudly to Ralph that it is a cell phone clipped on the belt of that man.
Hearing Loss Misinterpretations
I have some hearing loss (my family would say a lot), so I can sympathize with my Dad’s hearing.
However, his wife would say he got a hearing aid model that has a “selective hearing” switch on it. Ralph says the hearing aid has a setting for “wife”.
We are driving to the Air and Space Museum located by the Dulles airport. My comment is, “It looks like traffic is grounded to a stop on the road ahead.”
Ralph’s reply, “You are crazy. They wouldn’t make a gravel road out here.”
I thought to myself “shut up and just keep driving Anthony”.
Wheel Chair Priority
What a nice perk.
We got advanced to the front of the line at the security check point at the airport, at the IMAX theatres, Washington Monument, and a couple of other places all because of Ralph being in a wheel chair. At the Bureau of Engraving the wheel chair access is through the workers area. Kind of like a small backstage tour.
Washington D.C. is a very wheel chair friendly city.
Carmex
Ralph complained about the poor quality of the lotion that he was putting on his lips in the hotel bathroom. I did not remember seeing any lip balm among the toiletry items that were stocked by the hotel in the bathroom. I asked him what he was using and he told me the hand lotion. (OK, this is already a little strange, but as a farmer he learned to be resourceful.)
When I checked the bathroom, I found out it was the hair conditioner and not the hand lotion bottle he was using.
I made sure I offered him my Carmex from that point forward.
Kids Fall Asleep On Car Rides
Many of you reading this story have done the “car ride so your young child falls asleep trick”.
Well we missed our afternoon nap when we drove to the Air & Space Museum at Dulles airport. On the way home I encouraged Dad to take a nap in the car during our 30 minute drive. Just like with kids, he kept looking out the window and asking questions or making comments. Of course this was preventing from taking a nap.
I did what many parents of kids have done driving down the road. I kept looking straight ahead and refused to make even one comment.
Little Johnny finally did fall asleep in the car.
The White House
We were in front of the South Lawn of the White House.
He says to me, “It (the White House) sure doesn’t look white.”
“What color does it look like?” I replied.
Ralph responds, “White”.
I wonder what the color of the sky is in his world. Maybe someday I will ask him.
The Cement Pond
We were standing in front of the U.S. Capital which has a large pond in front of it late one night. Since the outside of the pond is cement, I figured it would be right up Dad’s interest alley because of the Cement Solution.
I comment, “How do you like this cement pond?”
His reply, “You are crazy if you think there is no mud on the bottom.”
He may be right, but I was making a reference to the old TV show “The Beverly Hillbillies”. Granny always referred to the pool as the cement pond.
I never did find out if there is mud at the bottom of the pond. We never could find the answer on the Internet. I am just glad he didn’t make me jump into the water to find out.
Cruising
Ralph would have his legs crossed and just enjoying the world while I pushed him in the wheel chair, which is what the trip was all about for me.
However, he might have gone over the edge when it was 99 degrees and he decided to untie his shoes to “air his feet out”.
I sure could have used a cool breeze as the sweat rolled down my bare back.
In Conclusion
My 4 day trip with my 85 year old Dad was a life experience that I won’t forget.
Ralph is a truly loving and honest man. I love him dearly. His observations and comments about the world around him can be very informational about the life he has lived over the past 85 years.
However, his honesty also provides great content. In this short book, I tried to balance the humor, laughter, and head shaking moments that his comments brought to me.
I love you man.