In Jan. of 1988, we went to see my wife’s brother who lives in Alexandra VA (IIRC the weekend the Redskins played the Bears??) and Washington DC got snowed in.
DC was closed on Friday and early Saturday morning my BIL took us and his wife and (at the time) their 14 year old son to Mt.Vernon (my actual 3rd visit.)
Imagine being the FIRST visitors for the day (after being closed for Friday) and seeing the whole place covered in the most picture-postcard-perfect snow setting I have ever seen in my life, with NO footprints or tire tracks on the grounds whatsoever. I felt like seeing what George saw coming home after a long absence in the wintertime.
We had the WHOLE place to ourselves with just the few workers and dressed-in-the-period “tour guide” folks and workers there to give it it’s 1700-1800’s “real-time-charm”.
After we had finished our OWN PERSONAL guided tour and were heading outside, more tourist folks had just started arriving and the beautiful peaceful “all-by-ourselves” ambiance we had enjoyed for about an hour, slowly melted away.
I will remember it ALWAYS.
The other thing I’ll never forget is when our lady tour guide had just finished showing us the bed where Washington passed away (IIRC with Martha by his side), and as we all were quietly taking in the moment in TOTAL silence, the tour guide lady breaks the silence and asks the five of us:
“Do you have any more questions??”
...upon which my 14 year old nephew breaks the sort of “uncomfortable pause in conversation” by asking our guide:
“Ummmm...Is this also the room where Martha made the first flag??”
Lucky for him, by BIL (a LIFELONG now retired US Military Man) didn’t make him WALK home.
Thanks for sharing that special day. I could see it! Thank you. :)