Incredible day....awestruck, eaves-dropping and taxi drivers

posted by Patty James @ 5:24pm, Wednesday 14 April 2010.

Before I forget it all, I have to start with my taxi ride back from Capital Hill....so funny...

Well, if any of you read the 'comments' from the last post about how easy it is to take the Metro...you'll understand why I took a cab. I parked at the Metro, walked inside and couldn't figure out how to pay, most likely why there was a line of taxi's. This driver was great-I heard all about his life growing up, his 9 kids (2 sets of twins!) and how he retired for 3 weeks, but went crazy and bought a cab. Union worker all his life, could retire, but chooses not to. We had a great chat and I really enjoyed his company.

I'll get to everything in between the taxi rides in a bit. So, I'm all done and walk outside to get a taxi back to my car parked at the metro about 15 minutes away. The nice gentleman driving the cab has a GPS, but doesn't know how to use it (me-I learned on Monday...) but instead pulls out 2 different maps and studies them, asks me to read the map for him. I left my glasses inside and for a $2.00 pair of glasses wasn't going back through security (we'll get to that in a while) so he had to read it himself. First honk of the trip as the taxi driver behind wanted out. So we pull out and he says he thinks he turned down the wrong street, this in between a tirade on economics and human nature. It was interesting actually. Next I heard all about the Washington Capitals, which are evidently the best hockey team in the world. He picks up the map and looks again-on the freeway- and honks abound as he is holding up traffic. I decide to sit back and enjoy the ride. Next he says he has to go to the bathroom (he's 71 year's old) and would I mind if we go back to the Taxi center not far away so he can. Sure, no problem. He leaves the car running in a bit of an iffy neighborhood as he goes inside...


I had to take a photo..I was cracking up....

The lost and honking thing continued. He asked what I paid to get there, I told him and he turned off the meter and said he would charge the same. Very sweet...Honking, wrong turns, u-turns, you name it, it happened. We had fun actually. I gave him some advice about his gastric reflux and kidney stones and he said he was going to watch me on TV on Friday and buy my book. Very fun.....it always, always, pays to be generous of spirit and kind to people.

O.K. now to the middle of the day...awful photo, but the poor woman said she never could take photos. You get the gist. I was dressed up and actually looked better than this photo...One woman I passed on Independence Avenue, said very loudly..."Whoa girl, lookin' good today. Don't hurt anyone." I turned 3 shades of red, thanked her and smiled at people looking at me. Women say such things I find, and men just look. If a man would say that-most likely a Senator- it might not go over so well...



As I left early assuming I was taking the Metro and getting lost, I was early. I hadn't eaten anything, so I went to the 'Cafeteria' inside the building that houses the 'House' and had a salad bar (with Blue Cheese!-I haven't had cheese for a while and it was sooo good!) Oh, I forgot, they do have security and I guess they were careful (x-rays and all) but no one asked me anything. Getting into the Clinton Foundation in Harlem takes a while and I expected the same, but no..just X-rays. So now for the eavesdropping part. It wasn't on purpose, but they're right next to you. Here are some snippets of what I overheard...

Military people-lots of medals on uniforms-

Some thing about the head of the KGB, appropriations and lifting weights. The one man with the most medals was definitely the leader of the pack. All eyes and attention of the other men were on him. I wonder what makes a man the leader? He did seem gracious and actually humble, but judging by the medals and posture, he was a natural leader. Men admire him and just from my perspective, he had a nice combination of traits. Nice smile, courteous. Confidence and a gentleman-you could tell. A straight up kind-of-guy who doesn't play games. Personally I like that kind of man. Who wouldn't? That table was interesting.

Next door on the other side, the conversation was about one man who said something to a woman he thought was pregnant, but wasn't (awful-did that once myself...still feel bad!) weight lifting and gym stuff yet again, but also included some military talk-'he was a 3-star, retired and is on some Boards and makes half-a-mil a year' Also something about one man's wife who heard something in the night, he checked it out-nothing-she's back asleep and he's wide awake. Funny. The other side was something about mining and yet again, appropriations. Lots of black, navy blue and heavy-starched white shirts. Evidently, it's 'all about contacts and access.'

So now it's 3:30 and I have my meeting. It was great. As usual, I start taking about it, get all fired up and passionate, and people watch, listen and smile. I'll just cut to the chase. They want to help and offered some advice as to some organizations they think I should chat with. They also want me to come back at year's end to give a briefing to not only Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, but to other members of Congress.  I said of course that I would be happy to do that-very exciting. I find that people listen and react favorably when you have passion. It's not something you can fake. It's there or it's not.

I have to admit, I was awestruck today. Capital Hill! The Library of Congress! Independence and Pennsylvania Avenues! The Capital Building! Walking down the halls of the 'House' building all the doors are open to every Congressperson. All you have to do is go through security and walk into anyone's office. People do! I felt proud actually and so thankful that I was able to do this today. Open doors, come on in and talk..wow...

The Capital Building






Lynn's open door



All the other Congresswomen and Congressmens open doors




I got back to my hotel room, pretty high on life today. Patch and Wilma and I went for a good long run/walk while I thought about all that happened.

It was a very good day...