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Sunday, April 4, 2010

Sundays in My City: Cherry Blossoms

In the eight or so years we've lived in the greater DC area, we have made it up to the Tidal Basin to see the Cherry Blossoms once.

Yes, once.

I could give you all sorts of reasons why (work, young & nursing children, pregnancy...) but it would be an elaborate avoidance of the truth: I hate crowds.

And yes, while the blossoms are quite lovely, there are lots and lots and lots of people and their dogs and their strollers and their leaflets and their cameras and their political T-shirts in the mix.

I mean, look at these crowds! You'll have to look past my squint-tastic, pre-children self.


I'm happy to say that I have found my own Cherry Blossom oasis just minutes from my house. 

St. Leonard is one of the "towns" in my rural county. This means it includes all of the important things in life---a gas station, two liquor stores, a tattoo parlor, and a watering hole called simply, "The Tavern."

Paul and I call it "The Tav," because we are wicked awesome. 

St. Leonard also has a polling house/memorial garden. It stopped being the polling house back in 1974, but the building remains, and serves as a meeting area for community caroling, egg hunts, and other seasonal gatherings. 

 
I'm always moved by the memorials---the stones and the benches that represent lives, laughter, and now, eternal longing. 
 

Although I am touched by the memorials, I am restored by the incandescent, spontaneous ecstasy of the Cherry Blossoms. 



Yes, the DC Cherry Blossoms are very nice, and everybody should see them at least once. However, I prefer my own private Eden just minutes from my house.


Unknown Mami

18 comments:

Liz Mays said...

Yes, the cherry blossoms are the highlight of my past trips to DC. But, I'm glad you found an explosion of them nearer to home....and The Tav.

Lee Ann said...

Wow those blossoms are spectacular! xx

Prairiemaid said...

The cherry blossoms are amazingly beautiful....but, I am kind of like you.....as a matter of fact, I think I'd rather walk outside and look at the peach blossoms...not as lovely, but no crowds.

Glad you found your own spot with beautiful blossoms away from the crowds.

Blessings!
~Cheryl

cheatymoon said...

Very pretty.
Right there w/ you on the crowd factor. Ack.

Stephanie said...

Mmmm. Beautiful! I bet they smelled heavenly, too.

Unknown said...

wow just gorgeous!

Bekah said...

Thanks for sharing. My only trip to DC (high school band trip, yikes!) we were about 2 weeks too early for the blossoms.

Unknown said...

You are correct, you and Paul are "wicked awesome."

Erin said...

OMG OMG HAHAHA That pic on your header...of your son in the Tonka truck....haha I have the same truck and my youngest son sat in it just like that!

Anyway, the cherry blossoms are amazing! When they bloom here in the parking lot at work, it looks like it's snowing when the wind blows!

Sonya said...

Cherry Blossoms are so beautiful! I have forgotten about those since moving here. I dont see them much. I hate crowds too..I start panicking and then it ticks me off when someone decided to grace us all with their deodorant free armpits..lol

June said...

I would love to smell those cherry blossoms!!

Jenny said...

I am not a crowd person either. Especially when I am feeling the history and emotion of a place.

You have capture this perfectly.

Thank you for the trip!

Maude Lynn said...

How beautiful!

Melani said...

Yes, beautiful cherry blossoms! Looks like snow to me! :)

Claudya Martinez said...

I love cherry blossoms. They just fell me with joy.

Danifred said...

I've lived in the DC metro area my entire life and I've never been down to see the Cherry Blossoms. Shameful, I know.

Cat said...

I loved the Cherry Blossoms when I lived in DC... something about all those blooms near all the monuments. Your private Eden sounds just as wonderful though!

Mrs4444 said...

Holy cow! Those are awesome. Wow.