       Allen Richard sure hit it on the head about the heat in DC. We
were there in August of 1967 and it was miserable to say the least. The
reporter on the radio said, “It’s going to be a tough one today with 95
square.” We didn’t know what that meant and finally dad asked a service
station attendant and he said it was when the temp and the humidity are
both 95. We still went to all the points of interest and just suffered
through it as it was the only time we would probably ever be there. We
went out to the Statue of Liberty the day before in New York Harbor and
my cousins and I climbed all the way to the top in that heat. Inside
that old bronze statue there are hundreds of steel steps to take you to
the top and by the time we got to the little windows in the crown we
were soaked with sweat like we had been under water. I actually got
sick from the ordeal and spent the next couple days feeling tough. I
missed most of Mount Vernon, which is George Washington’s plantation in
Virginia, because I found a big old wooden rocking chair on the porch
and spent most of the day sitting in it. It was the same at
Williamsburg–it was hot and I was sick. Fun vacation? The trip was
still interesting and I’m glad my folks took me on it. I thought the
very best part of the entire trip was the Smithsonian. They have
several floors of historical artifacts dating from prehistoric to
current. The best part of that is it’s kept in climate controlled
conditions and that means air conditioning and humidity control. I
really hated to leave the museum and spent a big part of my time there
looking at the Civil War displays. I understand that the Smithsonian has
branched out to a separate museum that, I believe, is at Silver
Springs, Maryland. This is for the history of flight and has all the
aircraft of significance displayed there. Now that would be
interesting! The ’67 trip was a bit miserable but It was still great all
the way around! I would take Allen’s advise and go in the spring or
fall. Thanks Gary!
Dick
 A Florida senior citizen drove his brand new Corvette convertible outÂ
of the dealership. Taking off down the road, he pushed it to 80 mph,Â
enjoying the wind blowing through what little hair he had left.Â
“Amazing,” he thought as he flew down I-95, pushing the pedal even more.
Looking in his rear view mirror, he saw a Florida State Trooper, blueÂ
lights flashing and siren blaring. He floored it to 100 mph, then 110,Â
then 120. Suddenly he thought, “What am I doing? I’m too old for this!”Â
and pulled over to await the trooper’s arrival.
Pulling in behind him, the trooper got out of his vehicle and walkedÂ
up to the Corvette. He looked at his watch, then said, “Sir, my shiftÂ
ends in 30 minutes. Today is Friday. If you can give me a new reasonÂ
for speeding–a reason I’ve never before heard — I’ll let you go.”
The old gentleman paused then said: “Three years ago, my wife ran offÂ
with a Florida State Trooper. I thought you were bringing her back.Â
“Have a good day, Sir,” replied the trooper.