It’s been more than a week since I headed into Washington, D.C. from suburban Maryland to meet with fellow bloggers at the Library of Congress for a guided tour.  But I thought since I had the time and the space this week, I’d share some thoughts about the tour.

First, we had a tough time finding each other, though I had the whole family unit along with me, except for my husband who showed up later on after work.  But once Jill got the great idea to call my cell and see who picked it up, everything went more smoothly.

We met our soft-spoken guide, who was so knowledgeable about the Library of Congress and its history that I thought she must have been there when it was built.  Needless to say, the tour was very detailed, particularly in the main hall with its architecture, sculptures, floor designs, and artwork.

You can see our guide next to Nicole and pointing straight ahead.  While I can’t say I was riveted, my dad had a lot to add to the conversation.  I tried to keep focused.

The bibles copied by hand and movable type were fascinating and differences were nearly imperceptible.  It was great to meet Gayle in person since we haven’t seemed to meet before and we live in the same area.  It was great to see Trish, Amy, and Nicole again, and it was great to meet Jill, who was very friendly and great to talk to.  I know Jill made my mom’s day; she was a bit nervous about meeting all these bloggers who are younger than her.

The highlight for me was learning about how to become a reader at the Library of Congress, which is free and only requires a pass.  I also enjoyed learning that I could read Thomas Jefferson’s books even though they are displayed in an exhibit case.  The books are meant to be read!!!

I leave you with a photo of the fountain outside the Library of Congress.  I believe I took this one, but it could have been my husband.