I take things for granted...

It really sank in today how much I take for granted around me.

Today I went into DC for a briefing on Capital Hill. Now let me set up the story appropriately...

I was having a slammed hard day at work... couldn't wait to get my ass away from the office so I called a cab a little bit early. Thank goodness I did. The cabbie (who for the story's sake we'll refer to him as "Habib") was outside doing some weird little ritual looking thing to his old Crown Vic car when I walked outside. Whatever... moved on. So Habib of course asks where I'm going... I told him "the Capital Building...". His reply is "Where? Because the Capital Building has both House and Senate, 4 main entrances... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH..." I tell him I have to make a few calls but I will let him know which entrance in a few minutes..." Right then I notice a perplexed look on his scrunched up face... I can't figure it out if it's because he doesn't understand the language that is coming out of my mouth (English of course, duh) or because he inhaled too much sage and smoke with his morning Hookah. Whatever... moved on. So I'm on the phone with some congressional dip-wits trying to fing out what room this god-forsaken meeting was being held in. After putting me on hold for 10 minutes to figure it out (they work in the office that was hosting the briefing!!) they gave me the room... SC-4 (now remember this room... it eventually becomes VERY important later on). I tell Habib that I need to be dropped off on the "Senate side of the Capital Building". I see that damn perplexed look again. Whatever... moved on. So we're be-bopping along on 395 when I notice that he passed the exit. I figure that like all cabbies, Habib has a round-about short-cut. Whatever... moved on. I see the Capital... looks like we're going to have to go all the way around it. It doesn't matter... I'm early as hell and SB has called me and we're chatting up the storm. It was when Habib jetisons over to the curb that I realize Habib is a dumbass. I politely say, "This is a House building". He gives me that look again. Inside I'm screaming "FACK ME". I repeat the original orders, "Senate side of the CAPITAL BUILDING"... I purposely stressed CAPITAL BUILDING hoping he'd get the drift that my ass actually needed to walk in to the CAPITAL BUILDING. Thats when the shit hit the fan. Habib goes "Where is the Capital?". OMG. I seriously almost died. For some reason I remained calm and explained to Habib that DC is the capital of the US and that the big building in the center of all this gandure is what is known as the Capital Building. He gives me that perplexed look... but not for too long... as he's bounding across lanes of traffic to zoom me up to the front fucking steps!!! Now for those of you who don't live here... most of the streets on the Hill are periodically shut down... barracaded... or security checked at all times... Most of the main road immediately adjacent to the building have been permenantly shut down for security reasons. So anyways... I'm yelping in the back seat about "BARACADE! BARACADE!" as Habib aims for two Secrete Service Men or DC Police (don't remember these details as my life outside of bars flashed before my eyes). Habib saves the day by again catapulting to the far right lane again... naturally there are about 30 horns honking in applause! :o) Whatever... moved on. It still gets worse. Habib preceeds to stop in the middle of traffic, not once, but twice to leave the car running, hop out, and skip up to the car in front to ask "Where is the Capital?". I'm in Taxi hell. Finally my amusement and astonishment is dwindling. I finally instruct him how to drop my ass off on the correct side. BYE HABIB.

Off to the Capital. Now remember that b/c the surrounding streets are closed it's a nice jaunt from the Senate buildings (where after my sixth "STOP!!" to Habib actually worked). It's hot as hell out. As usual I am partaking in the anarchy of "DC attire"... I, unlike the 99.9% of everyone else, am not in a full black suit (aka. jacket, pants, pumps, briefcase)... I'm in a brown pants and a pink and red striped shirt... NAY-SAYER!!!! LOL. Anyways... I make it to the front security check point. Notice little man in uniform with a BIG ASS semi-automatic weapon... Weird combo... I figure he's the wee man with the Napoleonic complex so they handed him the big boy gun! *shrugs* Yet again, people bug me... there are about 10 of us in a row that are going to the same meeting but the fucked up part is that EVERY guard is asking you "Mame, where are you going today"... I reply back "SC4"... thats it, no more no less and they nodd their little shaved heads and permit me to pass as though they were Gabriel gaurding the pearly gates. The funny part is you have to picture that there are 10 of us being asked in assembly style fashion from about a dozen DC police "Mame/Sir where are you going today"... it's not like they couldn't hear the dumbass in front of them ask me the same question, they are standing less then two feet apart for goodness sakes!!! So all you hear is "SC4, SC4, SC4, SC4, SC4, SC4, SC4, ...." like 100 times in a 3 minute period... it became etched in my damn brain... I swear I'll wake up chanting "SC4" over and over. In reality I wanted to just say non-chalantly to one "SC4" then turn to the guy standing shoulders width apart, "SCKDKFGS 4,056,321... SUCKA!!!!" Of course I'm sure that would be my demise. I'd have Napoleon pushing his BIG GUN into the back of my head in 2 seconds! Or worse... they wouldn't let me go to the meeting and I'd have a lot of explaining to do at work! hahaha.

Anyways... I go to the briefing and realize that they are serving everyone catered lunch! JOYOUS!!! I take my boxed lunch and soda and park it in what possible could be the tiniest room for a press briefing I have ever seen. Whatever... it't only 30 mins long and it's a free lunch! Hindsight is 20/20... My original plans were to go to Union Station and grab a bite to eat at this awesome little bistro... but passed it up for the NASTY, WRETCHED, I-think-it-was-supposed-to-be-turkey, Senate catered, brick of a sandwhich. Thank god the cookie and apple was decent! haha.

Afterward I'm in the hall discussing some stuff with some non-profit big wigs. I was so proud of myself! I have come so far from the person who first started working in governemt relations... go to a meeting a run before someone can strike up a conversation that makes you look dumb. Now I'm pushing the envelope and getting into some awesome conversations... I notice people behind me looking past me... "Rude Bastards"... but I keep going. Finally it occures to me that they are trying to get my attention to stop talking as well... I slowely fade to a mumble as I turn around. To my surprise there were Representative Honda (who was keynote speaker at the briefing) and Representative Patrick Kennedy (on the House Appropriations Committee's subcommitte on Labor, Health, and Pensions... not to mention A FUCKING KENNEDY!!! haha). They had been listening to me speak. So we struck up a conversation... the dimbats who had been staring in awe now wanted a piece of the kill... but don't worry... I wouldn't let them. So what if they are *ONLY* Represenatives!?! They were supporting what I was saying! Two leaders of the country (although not MAJORILY important... they are STILL leaders) where standing here listening to what little girl originally from Po'Dunk VA had to say!!! I was stoked...
Anyways... Representative Honda was pretty damn cool. Kennedy didn't really say much... but then I really didn't give a shit... I WAS TALKING TO A KENNEDY. I felt like tomorrow I'd be dining with Maria Schriever and "Ah-nold" over tea discussing the loss of John-John! :o)
Welp my fame was fleeting... they were wisked quickly away to another meeting.

I realized that I had gotten completely turned around in the building and didn't know where I was exiting. I'm still on Cloud-9 so I really didn't care. I prepare myself for the heat as I open the door to go outside. This was my epiphany...

Here I was standing on the top front entrance to the United States Capital. Noone was around me. I could see hundreds of tourists milling around (I suppose I was many of their snap shots! haha) as well as large protest trying desperately to get orgainzed. It was the perfect unobstructed view of the full lawn, reflecting pool, Washington Monument and even the Potomac. As I felt the warm sun beating down... I realized something. I am so lucky. People take off work, save money in a little account, and have to plan for a trip to DC a year in advance to make sure they get all the little tickets and such... and here I am... I live here. I'm surrounded by amazing culture, art, ambiance, etc. I've had conversations with Senators, Representatives, Secretary of Health, Secretary of NIAID, CDC, NIH, etc... I have taken all of this for granted. With a big smile on my face I prance down the main stairs towards the Mall lawn. I notice then that I still have my security pass around my neck... and as I go to take it off a little boyscout (there were like 100s that day) tugged on a bigger boyscout and said "I wonder what she does to be able to come out that door! You think she knows really important people?" I pause long enough to hear the older one say "Probably. Like a staffer or something I bet." It was adorable... definitely made me smile. That and I had to chuckle because a family of 20 (who happended to all have grotesquely matching shirts) came pouring out that same door after a tour 5 minutes later! haha.

I went to sit on the side wall and finish my lunch and ponder this new found enlightenment... thats when I realized that the protest was actually pretty damn big... it was hundreds of little Asian people in yellow shirts and banners bitching about some persecution in China (I evidently am dumb... I had no clue what they were talking about!). About that time I see a dozen or so police running past and yelling to get back. I guess a good time to pack up and move on. Too late though...evidently the China-crowd had blocked traffic and other roads... they were pushing them back... back into meeeeeeee!!! Next thing I know I'm surrounded by a sea of Asians all talking in harse broken language that I obviously can't understand. FACK DC, and their constant protests! *sigh* How quickly my epiphany ended! hahahahah.

Anyways. I have work to do. Have to give a briefing of the briefing (lol) to my CEO in a few.