Wednesday, January 21, 2009



In 2003 Rosemary, Rebecca and I visited Washington DC. I insisted in having lunch at the venerable Willard Hotel. I explained to Rosemary and Rebecca that the term lobying came from the early meetings in the 1850s, 60s and 70s of politicians with people who wanted to "buy" favours. Surely Abraham Lincoln and others must have walked the corridors of the hotel. I thought I could feel their presence. Some day Rebecca will return to DC. If she happens to lunch at the Willard Hotel I hope she still remembers and runs into my presence.



We walked to the Capitol and I showed Rebecca and Rosemary the large Magnolia grandiflora on one side of the capitol steps. I told her that Abraham Lincoln might have stopped to smell the very large and beautiful white flowers. At the National Gallery Rebecca spotted this painting ( Giant Magnolias on a Blue Velvet Cloth, Martin Johnson Heade) and said, "Look that could even be Abraham Licoln's magnolia."