[Just A Nobody]

The rally ended and everyone was getting tired and hungry so we parted company with Kristinn after he suggested The Pavilion Café located in the National Gallery of Art-Sculpture Garden at 7th and Constitution Ave. Somewhere along the way we lost Ali Veritas and daughter.

Once again, melancholy was snapping pictures as we made our way through the throngs of people still milling around the area.

Aren’t kids fun to watch? Not sure what they were examining, but they were adorable!

This was an excellent “set” of posters…sums it up just about right!

A couple of rest stops later we arrived at the Entrance to the National Gallery of Art-Sculpture Garden.

We easily found the beautiful Pavilion Café, passing this little house which “turned” toward you as you walked by. There is a word for it, but I forget.

FReeper Matchett-PI and friend Richard caught up with us at the Café and we had a leisurely lunch and great conversation.

Not sure what Matchett was talking about, but it made for an interesting photo!

Buoyed by the sight of 1.75 MILLION like minded citizens and the making of new FRiends with whom we had been communicating with for years on FreeRepublic, we sadly parted company to go our own ways. Melancholy and company embarked on their long drive home, while Matchett-PI, Richard and I headed back to get ready for the convention while Tolerance Sucks Rocks vanished into the crowd. What an incredible experience! Many thanks to Jim Rob for giving us this special place to meet and form wonderful new FRiendships.

[fujimoh]

Better late than never. Thanks!

[HighlyOpinionated]

As one person who was also there said, “It was like a big family picnic.” Well, without the food. Everyone was friendly to everyone else. No one in the groups I ended up walking with even asked your name, we just started talking like we’d known each other our whole lives. Mostly the signs or tee-shirts or State flags let you know where someone was from, but that didn’t really matter to the occasion.

It was . . . family. Calm, peaceful, fun, enjoyable . . . family gathering.

And the Capitol Police said “Thank YOU” to the group I was in as we returned to Union Station.

Next year will be better . . . but we’ll need to gather sooner and plan to leave Freedom Plaza at 8:30 or 9 AM, because I imagine there will be twice as many people. [Some of the people I rode on Amtrak back to BWI said that all the DC hotels were full and that they had to get rooms near BWI (Airport).] And I expect more Conservatives of color will join us next year, too. The ones that were there that I saw were having a great time, just chatting and talking and comparing notes. Everyone was so friendly and polite. It was a great experience. Bring the kids next year.