Thirty years ago last January I drove a car from the West Coast to the East Coast to start a one-year tour of duty as a relatively young Washington correspondent for the Anchorage Daily News.
I arrived in D.C. just one day before Reagan’s inauguration, which launched his first term, which turned out to be a pretty big game-changer for America.
Reagan and Congress proceeded to alter the relationship between the federal government and Alaska, both in ways we expected and in ways we didn’t. My job was to report on those changes.
In the years since then, I’ve often wished I’d done a better job telling that story, recording that moment in history. There are a thousand things I would have done differently, both in terms of the reporting and the writing.
At the same time, however, I’ve never regretted that I occasionally allowed myself time off in the evening or on weekends to poke around Washington, getting to know it better, this magical center of our history and our people.
Particularly I loved those Saturday morning walks along the National Mall, ideally after a good breakfast, where for free you could explore an entire universe of human knowledge inside the Smithsonian museums of science and history.
I could spend ages inside those old buildings and be very,very content. As I am once again just now.
Travels with Harley 
Dear George–I remember the summer of 1981 so well–our seven week trek across the country with four weeks spent in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine and then four days with you before driving west. Mom and Dad had been with you a couple weeks before we reached DC (they loved every moment) We were a lot of family for you as you graciously put the six of us up in your living room every night after our daily sightseeing. Our children were young (3,7,9, and 11) but we tried to pack as much as we could into those few days–I love that I walked the Senate halls with my brother. Andrew and Annie have been back as chaperons on eighth grade trips and Tom has accompanied them, but he and I have not yet realized our dream of RETURNING TO SPEND DAYS AND DAYS WANDERING IN THE SMITHSONEAN JUST THE TWO OF US. (Maybe this coming year)—————————-I love you and am looking forward to you and Harley knocking on our door soon. Be safe and Happy Thanksgiving——————Lynda
Lynda, great memory! (Better than mine.) Hoping to make it back to my birthplace by my birthday. At which time I will definitely knock on your door. How strange it will be not to have Mom & Dad’s home to return to this year (after 66 some years that that house was always ours). I plan to drop by and say hello to the new owners…. And Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Hi Uncle George and Happy Thanksgiving! I see you have my faves the Neanderthals up there. Glad you and my father have finally conceded as per http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/05/100506-science-neanderthals-humans-mated-interbred-dna-gene/
🙂 Hope you continue having a wonderful trip! Love, Kathleen
Dear Niece Kathleen, be assured that any time I write the word “Neanderthal” I think of your ongoing doctoral research at London U. Where I hope you’re doing well. Thanks for the link on the Ice Age love thing. And — Happy Thanksgiving!