In 1996, I visited Washington DC. I walked up the East Steps of the Capitol and into the Rotunda...

[Carolina]

40. It saddens me so to see my beloved

DC today. I grew up in DC... lived there from age 4 months to nearly age 41.

Once upon a time it was an open, free city and great place to be. Open spaces and free access to all public buildings except the White House. You could wander around Capitol Hill as well as inside the Capitol Building and the House and Senate Office Buildings.

Though I lived in the NW quadrant, for grades 3-6, I attended what was deemed an experimental public school in SW DC called Amidon. The importance of this (besides education) was that it meant I rode past the WH everyday. I will always fondly recall some Fridays leaving school, we could see Marine One flying up over the Potomac from Andrews AFB. Our carpool would hustle (so much less traffic then) toward the WH where we would stop (even park) right on 15th St and run up to the WH fence so we could see JFK preparing to travel to Hyannis for the weekend. When he was murdered on that awful Friday nearly 50 years ago, my family rode down to the WH that night and saw the North Portico draped in black. Those were the days when the fence was more decorative, less fortress-like, and you could drive completely around the WH: PA Ave, 15th St, Executive Dr... In fact, in the image of the South Portico shown in your post, you used to be able to drive, and walk, up close and personal, so speak... the good old days of freedom

Anyway, in midlife, I reluctantly relocated because of my husband. Now when I go back to visit DC and the dwindling number of family members and friends who are still in the area, I am both appalled and disheartened by the change(s). We all reminisce about what once was and lament how the country is going to hell and how we're glad we're as old as we are. That's pretty sad isn't it?!

I prefer my memories, but feel for the generations that now only see DC as the enclave of the very rich and the very protected where access is more limited, lines are long, traffic is horrendous and so much is fenced in to keep "we, the people" away.