Relatively Civil Servants

Today, after Maceo's soccer game (He scored 2 goals!), I gave the boys the choices of going to some of the EU embassies that were open today welcoming people and sharing touchstones of their cultures; going on a hike in Rock Creek Park; or going to the National Postal Museum to celebrate trains and the mail.


Any guesses of what they chose?


I was hoping for the hike, which they didn't pick. And I was glad they didn't chose the embassies, as were they, because on the way to the Postal Museum, we drove along Massachusetts Ave past a number of the embassies, and they had lines that were down the sidewalk. A few lines were blocks long. We discussed what could possibly be IN the embassies that would make it worth waiting in such a line. I suspected beers, and the boys suggested food. Maybe we were both right.

At the Postal Museum, there were lots of fun things train-related to do. The boys made silkscreen prints,

designed mail boxes,

About 98% of the markers were dried out and didn't work...

and practiced scanning packages to send out on their way.

Maceo waited patiently for about 10 minutes until the
other kid finished with one of the working scanners.

The other most popular things? Several large layouts for model trains, a tractor trailer cab to sit in and pretend to drive, and the best exhibit? Six mail baskets. Children were encouraged to sort small packages and then lob them into the bins as if they were basketball hoops. Cassius stayed there for about 15 minutes of postal service sport.

After that, we went to Shake Shack for Maceo's favorite meal--hamburgers! Cassius ate half a chicken nugget. But he also said they were really good and he'd save them for school lunch. So, I don't know.