Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Tonight's picture was taken on April 4, 2009. It was Mattie's 7th and last birthday, which he celebrated in the hospital. That day, Mattie had a small party in the child life playroom. Several of Mattie's friends came to visit and celebrate after school that day. Before his friends came, Mattie spent the morning in the playroom decorating and helping to get ready for the party. It was a very exciting day for him that of course included cupcakes!







Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins. 

• number of people diagnosed with the virus: 209,071
• number of people who died from the virus: 4,757

This was Mattie's little red wagon. It was a gift to him from his child life specialist. We used this wagon often with Mattie to take him on walks, as there were times he did not want to be in a wheelchair. 

Over all these years, we have kept this wagon. Thank goodness we have, because we are using it now for Sunny who is unable to do much walking because of a tore ACL. 

After walking/pushing Sunny, Peter and I then went out for a walk around the National Mall. Today's three mile walk took us to the World War II memorial. However, you can see how empty the Mall is, which is totally unheard of especially in the spring season. 

Me with the Lincoln Memorial in the background. 

Approaching the WW II memorial, with the Washington Monument and the Capitol in the background. Seeing all the American flags flying on this gray and sullen day, was like a symbol of hope. 

The tidal pool on the Mall has been empty of water for months. As they have been repairing and cleaning it. Today they were filling it back up with water. Peter was literally standing in the tidal pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. 

The World War II Memorial is a memorial of national significance dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II. Consisting of 56 pillars and a pair of small triumphal arches surrounding a square and fountain.

The WW II memorial is probably one of my favorite memorials on the Mall. I love its grandeur, its symbolism, and its water elements. 

On the floor of the Memorial Arches is the WWII victory medal surrounded by the years “1941-1945” and the words “Victory on Land,” “Victory at Sea,” and “Victory in the Air.”

The memorial consists of 56 granite pillars, each 17 feet tall, arranged in a semicircle around a plaza with two 43-foot triumphal arches on opposite sides. Two-thirds of the 7.4-acre site is landscaping and water. Each pillar is inscribed with the name of one of the 48 U.S. states of 1945, as well as the District of Columbia, the Alaska Territory and Territory of Hawaii, the Commonwealth of the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The northern arch is inscribed with "Atlantic"; the southern one, "Pacific." The plaza is 337 ft 10 in long and 240 feet 2 inches wide, is sunk 6 feet below grade, and contains a pool that is 246 feet 9 inches by 147 feet 8 inches.

The highlight of our week! Our friend Junko sent us some tasty treats from Maine.... lobster bisque, lobster mac and cheese, and lobster tails! I am a big lobster fan, so it feels like we are going out to eat, without leaving our home. It is a gift we absolutely love and reminds us of the incredible friends we have on Team Mattie.