if These Scrubs could talk…

I’m almost a rock’s throw away from the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. And since I have nothing but time right now, I went over to borrow some sugar and say “hi.” They didn’t have sugar but they had an excellent tour for me. I was entirely impressed by the patient centered construction of their new Clinical Center.

About 10% of the research that the NIH funds takes place at the Bethesda campus. I’ve recently read an amazing biography of Cancer which explained the early development of cancer research. I was pretty stoked to see the labs that some of that initial progress has evolved into. Something about leukemic children undergoing drug trials or marrow transfusions is incredible sad yet hopeful. I didn’t expect to have a bit of the choke-ups, but I did.

I’m starting to really get in sync with the weather and lush terrain around here. My bike rides are finally including hills, which I’ve been sorely missing.

Yeah, this cup of espresso at Filter in DC gets the co-crown for the best in my life. http://t.co/ULh2Q68

That’s Mall with a capital “M.” As in the museum and monument central of Washington, DC. I’m always mesmerized by the monstrous buildings of the government and national museums. Amongst the hundreds of school kids in conspicuously bright tie-dye t-shirts I meandered through the halls of the Museum of Natural History. The easy highlight was the butterfly exhibit whereby you walk amongst hundreds of beautiful fluttering butterflies. I enjoyed the double door exit to prevent hitchhiking butterflies from being lost from the exhibit.

Another incredible exhibit showed off the boney skeletons of all the major families of the animal kingdom. As an anatomy nerd, I was in heaven. Did you know that marsupials have a set of epipubic bones to support their abs? Or, that entire sharks weren’t in the exhibit because their skeleton is all cartilage and no bone?

Wandering the capital is one awesome way to spend a day. Tomorrow I may be Segwaying my way around the capital. Woohoo.

After mostly sitting for 18 hours in car over two days, arriving outside DC was a huge relief. I’m with family which feels great and lets me relax all the more. So, what to do now?

My short term plan is to visit some of my favorite landmarks and museums in DC, spend time with my cousins, aunt, and uncle, and get my bike an overhaul tune-up at REI (oh I miss thee). In the not so short term, ideas are swirling. Fly to LA to see family and friends? Try to etch out an abroad adventure? See, I have at least 3 weeks, most likely more before anything by way of school begins. That leaves me with lots of time when I’m used to spending each day with an agenda and sack of responsibility. It’s taking energy to just chill and not plan. So, I’ll have another cup of tea, stare out the kitchen at the lush greenery that is Maryland, and just be.

Made it to the capital in one piece. http://t.co/cZzzqR5

Long live Savannah. Nearing DC http://t.co/Vdrd4Ki

The parrot has landed…in Historic Savannah. How do you do? http://t.co/syjULBD

300+ miles behind me. Good drive so far. Savannah here I come. http://t.co/311SNMI

Proof that I got on before sunrise. Yes! http://t.co/TbUfOxw

I think it was a wise Bugs Bunny who coined the phrase, “That’s all folks!”  I stand on the threshold of my South Florida life looking out onto the open road. The road I’m looking at has no final destination, only a desire to see, smell, hear and taste freshness. Since finishing Step, I feel different. Like a lens has been placed or removed from my vision. I’me viewing what’s ahead with that old sense of adventure I remember harboring before the school pace set in. Things are different now.

With my car packed up with bags, bikes, food, and music I’m ready to hit that open road in before sunrise tomorrow. East Coast, here I come.