Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2006. It was Mattie's fourth birthday party and it was the first party we held for him outside of our home. In fact, it was the first party in which we invited classmates from preschool. So it was a big deal. Mattie loved nature, so it only made sense to host a dinosaur themed party at Riverbend Nature Center in  Great Falls, VA. Mattie had a great time with his close friends from school.... they did a nature walk with a naturalist, had an excavation  experience in a big sand box where they dug through sand for plastic dinosaurs, they got to meet up close and personal animals of the forest like snakes and turtles, and of course there was food, cake, and a pinata. A Mattie favorite!


Quote of the day: Grieving the loss of a child is a process, it begins the day your child passes and ends the day the parent joins them. ~ B.J.Karrer

Living in Washington, DC, I feel like I am constantly reporting things left and right. Last week it was encampments and this week it is graffiti. I am not sure which I like least. Graffiti truly troubles me and I find it offensive, ugly, and defaces property. Unfortunately graffiti begets more graffiti. I report this wall, right in front of the State Department, at least once a year. I would report it more frequently, but DC's policy is they will not clean graffiti in weather 40 degrees or colder. So there goes the winter! But with spring emanate, I want this gone! Do you see the big MTC on the wall? How anyone thinks this is self-expression is beyond me. 

I have this view right outside my bedroom window. It is the wall in front of the Kennedy Center! Filled with graffiti. In all the years I have lived here, I have never EVER seen graffiti here. It is a wonderment how anyone even did this, as this is a ramp off a major road, onto Route 66. Cars are NOT moving slowly here!

Seeing a trend outside the Kennedy Center? The ugliness abounds and I reported all of it today. I am sure it will take another month or more before these requests are even addressed. 


Tomorrow we head to Florida. We need a break, because we are both working around the clock and with me the only way to stop working is to physically remove me from my work area. Tonight, our home seems a bit out of sorts without Sunny and Indie to fill it. Ironically I do not worry about Indie when she is boarded, because she is good natured and easy going. The one who troubles me when I am away is Sunny. He goes on a hunger strike and looks sad for the first couple of days until he adjusts to his surroundings. Dogtopia has webcams, which enables me to monitor how Sunny is doing while away. 

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Tuesday, March 27, 2018 -- Mattie died 445 weeks ago today.

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2005. Mattie was turning three years old. For the first three years, we had all of Mattie's parties in our home. That year we had a Blues Clues party, as Mattie was in love with that TV character. Just like on the show, we had a treasure hunt to find clues so we could guess what Blue (a puppy) was thinking about! I also remember getting these great cakes for Mattie at a pastry store in Silver Spring, MD. Basically that store could design whatever themed cake you wanted and besides the cake looking wonderful, it also tasted great. We thought there would be many more parties in the future. 


Quote of the day: If it were not for hopes, the heart would break. ~ Thomas Fuller



On Thursday, Peter and I are leaving for Florida. We decided years ago to remove ourselves from DC around Mattie's birthday. We initially decided to do this for self preservation purposes. For as time moves on, so do people, and I can see that Mattie is no always on the minds of those who knew him. It is a sad reality. Mattie died at age 7. For many of his friends they really do not have a solid memory of him or their friendship. Though I recognize Mattie's friends from school they no longer recognize me. Not because I have changed in appearance but because we came into their lives when they were too young. 

I wonder at times what is worse, losing a young child in elementary school or losing a child who is in high school? A rather crazy question I know, because the response is...... both are bad. But I do think by high school, teens have a memory and they have friendships independent of their parents. It would be nice to have Mattie's friends as passionate as we are at keeping his memory alive. 

Which is why, we leave town. I am not sure what I expect otherwise. But I do know there are no parties, and no fun attached to April 4th. If Mattie were alive today, he would be turning 16 next week. It is a hard number to grapple with, especially since out of those 16 years, we only spent 7 with Mattie. Mattie has been gone more years than he was alive. Another sobering reality and though I am sure it is hard to nurture a teenager who is alive, it is even harder to nurture a child who no longer physically exists. 

Along with all these feelings I have, I can also become angry and resentful. I can get edgy when hearing about my friends' children..... their happenings, their thoughts about college, and the list goes on. Part of me wishes not to hear about these updates. Which isn't practical as this is part of friendship, and yet in the back of my mind I always wonder..... why Mattie? Why can't we be having these normal developmental conversations? I don't seem to be able to give up asking the 'why' questions regardless of the number of years that have passed.

So to the outsider observing us..... going away in April, seems like a nice vacation. Absolutely, it is a good change of scenery, but we aren't going away for vacation. In a way, it is going away for mental sanity and a diversion, while ultimately facing the inevitable..... another year without Mattie and all that comes with that.  

Monday, March 26, 2018

Monday, March 26, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. This was classic Mattie! Our hospital room was filled with all sorts of activities to do. In many ways, this was NO different from when Mattie was well. He was the ultimate multi-tasker. Sometimes when people multi-task, they aren't paying attention to what is being verbally communicated. In Mattie's case, he could look engrossed in an activity and not paying attention. But he heard EVERYTHING! As you can see from the photo, Mattie loved to construct things out of every day objects. This was Mattie's submarine comprised of boxes, yogurt containers, and a paper towel roll. The possibilities were as great as Mattie's imagination. 


Quote of the day: When you are here and now, sitting totally, not jumping ahead, the miracle has happened. To be in the moment is the miracle. ~ Osho


Being present focused is NOT something most of us are accustomed to, instead, we are future focused. We are constantly planning, thinking about the future, or have the mindset of passing on opportunities because it can always be done later. I have found that the number one thing to kick start someone into PRESENT gear and keep them there is a life threatening illness. Whether living with one or having the potential scare of having one! 

I have spoken to several people lately who are dealing with serious health crises. Ironically none of them are saying.... I should have worked harder! Instead, most of them are saying...... why did I push off seeing a friend/family member or going on a vacation with the thinking that I could do this in the future? When cancer strikes your life, you realize that future isn't guaranteed and when we reflect upon our lives we can be faced with regrets. 

There are many reasons why one becomes present oriented when dealing with cancer. The top reason could be fear! It is hard not letting one's mind wander and worry about dying. Which with cancer is a very realistic fear. Therefore staying in the moment is actually much more helpful psychologically. The other main reason for becoming present focused has to do with the treatment itself. Things can change from day to day. Which makes planning anything when undergoing treatment impossible. I saw this with Mattie's cancer protocol. In theory he should have had one week when he was on treatment and two weeks off. But we NEVER got the two weeks off, because the treatment had such devastating side effects, it usually left Mattie hospitalized. So there was NO point in making plans, it forced me to live hour to hour, some days minute by minute! 

I am not alone though. This is a common thread others are faced with when coping with cancer. I am not sure why the rest of the world can't get on board with living in the present moment? I wish I could say that I still live there! Part of me does and part of me can't because of the Foundation. But when I was living in the present moment, it was actually less stressful. It allowed me to NOT focus on anything else other than Mattie and our time together. I did not worry about chores, about food, about work, and the list goes on. I am quite aware of the fact that I did not have to worry about these things, because others around me helped with these logistics. 

In light of living in the present moment, I stopped at Mattie's memorial garden today, right in our commons area. Things are blooming and that made me pause. Our hyacinth. 

The daffodils in Mattie's garden!

I don't know how they are making it in the cold, but they seem happy and they are strong and sturdy like Mattie. 

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Sunday, March 25, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. I won't forget this moment in time, EVER! That day was a hellish bone scan. The first problem was in order to complete the scan Mattie could not drink or eat anything from the night before. Typically Mattie wasn't hungry, unless for some reason he knew he couldn't have food. It was very psychological. In any case, bone scans were probably the most pleasant of tests Mattie endured, however, that day, the radiologist reading the scans saw something he did not like. So he kept instructing the tech to do more scans. Mattie was under this scanner for close to two hours. Finally I told Mattie's child life specialist that I demanded to see the radiologist. I wanted to know what the problem was. So the doctor complied and met with me. The doctor saw something of concern in the scans, but what he did not understand was that Mattie had multiple limb salvaging surgeries. Therefore armed with that knowledge, it became clearer what he was seeing were prosthetics and scar tissue from those surgeries. If I hadn't demanded to speak with the radiologist, who knows how much longer Mattie would have been going through scans. In any case, once the process was over, we handed Mattie his favorite Dunkin Donuts treat and he started eating it before off the scanning table. He was that hungry!


Quote of the day: When it comes to understanding others, we rarely tax our imaginations. ~ Lawrence Hill


For the past couple of weeks, we have been working with two researchers at the National Cancer Institute of NIH on designing a survey to be administered to bereaved parents. Naturally, Peter and I have expertise on this issue. Expertise which we never wanted or asked for! 

Clearly Mattie Miracle is passionate about advocating for the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families, as well as increasing access to psychosocial services. However, if you asked me what time point in cancer treatment needs the most psychosocial attention, I would say end of life and bereavement support. When I say attention..... I mean from a research standpoint. Because obviously I am adamant that actual support is needed throughout the journey!

The survey is quite comprehensive and takes about 20 minutes to complete. Mainly because there are also open ended questions, which give the participant the opportunity to expound on an answer choice. The reason the researchers needed us specifically is because we are members of a closed Facebook group for bereaved parents. It is through this closed group that Peter is recruiting members to complete the survey. 

Peter is more active on this group than I am. So I am enjoying (not sure that is the right word), watching how members of the group are reacting to the survey. Many of them are thrilled that their experiences are being given a voice. Like we suspected so many of them did not get the much needed support in the moment, or NOW. I say now, because researchers truly don't get that the loss of a child isn't something you get over. It is a life long journey, that unfortunately doesn't end after the first year of mourning..... as our society seems to deem as socially acceptable! In any case, I am hoping these parent insights can eventually alter the way care is provided. 

I am not sure why Peter relates to this closed Facebook group better than I do. It actually surprises me, since I really do like electronic support. But I learned early on after Mattie's death, that the support I need can't come from other bereaved parents. I went to one and ONLY one support group meeting at the hospital. The meeting left me so angry at the group leaders and at one mom in the group, that I vowed never to go back to that group or any bereavement group in general. In the group that I attended, one mom monopolized the entire hour and then she had the audacity to tell the rest of us that her child's cancer treatment was worse than ours and therefore her loss was more significant. She is entitled to feel that way, but the leaders should have responded and helped the rest of us deal with that blow. In any case, though this support group meeting took place in November of 2009, I can still remember the feelings it evoked. Unfortunately those feelings get translated into any social experience I have with other bereaved parents. 

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Saturday, March 24, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in January of 2009. Mattie was home in between treatments and was on the couch surrounded by many of the items his care community gave him. In fact, can you see the star wand he was holding? It came from the owner of the Dairy Godmother, an ice cream and frozen treat store in Alexandria, VA. Naturally you couldn't have a wand without the ice cream! Mattie loved ice cream, even during his cancer treatment. We were more than eager for him to eat it too, since he was emaciated from chemotherapy. Literally the pillows on the couch, the green stuffed animal, and the military patches were all gifts! The outpouring of support for Mattie was hard to describe. 


Quote of the day: Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. ~ Andrew Carnegie


Mattie Miracle's goal is to cover everything psychosocial: 1) funding direct supportive care services (our child life specialist, and snack/item carts), 2) advocacy of psychosocial issues on Capitol Hill, 3) strategizing how to implement the evidence based Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families at treatment sites around the country, 4) contributing to the psychosocial research literature, and 5) offering psychosocial grants to researchers. 

Mattie Miracle will be offering $20,000 in psychosocial grants this year. The grants are offered through two professional associations: the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) and the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS). We thank both APHON and APOS for standing behind our psychosocial mission.

Recently we created The Mattie Miracle Early Investigator Award for APOS clinicians who wish to support research that aims to help implement any of the 15 published Pediatric Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families.  The goal of implementing the Standards is to ensure optimal psychosocial care for children with cancer and their families from the time of diagnosis, throughout treatment, into survivorship or end of life and bereavement care.

This partnership between Mattie Miracle and APOS was announced today. Mattie Miracle is honored to be working with the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) by annually funding an Early Investigator Research grant.  This grant  will help to support the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care.  

APOS was formed in 1986 to bring together professionals working in the psychological, behavioral and social aspects of cancer. Its mission broadened in the early 2000's to network professionals from all disciplines working in psychosocial oncology: nurses, social workers, psychologists, counselors, clergy and psychiatrists.

APOS is the professional association which invited Mattie Miracle to host both of its think tanks at their annual conferences, think tanks that were instrumental to the creation of the Standards of Care.  APOS is also a professional endorser of the Psychosocial Standards of Care. 


To learn more about the Grant: 

https://apos-society.org/wp content/uploads/2018/03/MMCF.APOS_.LOI2_.pdf

Friday, March 23, 2018

Friday, March 23, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in May of 2006. Mattie was almost four years old. That day he was invited to his preschool friend's birthday party. It was one neat party, that involved pony rides. Mattie absolutely loved it, as he was intrigued by all animals. 

My friend, Carolyn, sent me this photo. Apparently Shutterfly sent it to her today, as a photo memory of the day. I absolutely loved receiving this surprise, and what photos do is they give us an opportunity to talk and reflect on Mattie and his life. Which is also a gift!


Quote of the day: You don’t have to say everything to be a light. Sometimes a fire built on a hill will bring interested people to your campfire. ~ Shannon L. Alder

My day started off at Alexandria City Hall. For my faithful readers, you may remember I head to City Hall every spring to secure permits for the Foundation's annual Walk. We have had to get permits since 2012. Prior to that, we weren't required to have permits on private property in Alexandria, VA. But that all changed six years ago. I will never forget my first permitting experience in 2012. It was a NIGHTMARE of grand proportion. Mainly because the permitting office seemed able to help those who were building homes and things like that, but ill equipped to help someone like me who needed permits to host an event. They were as confused as I was and I also had to deal with surly attitudes, which I really didn't appreciate. 

In fact, in 2012, I spent hours in the permitting office and got so frustrated that I wrote to an Alexandria City council member, who connected me with the management of the permitting office. Ever since that connection, things have changed for me. I have been assigned to a lovely staff member who helps me every year. I tell her about our event and she then completes the paperwork for me and applies for all the permits on my behalf. Once the documents are assembled and approved by the office, I then come to City Hall to pay for the permits. 

So for example, today, I only spent thirty minutes total in the office, unlike in past years. When I tell you permitting isn't intuitive, I mean it! To have moon bounces at our event, I need a building permit. Correct, you read that right... a BUILDING permit. Which to me makes NO sense, but it is considered a raised structure. When all is said and done, we need the following permits: (1) building, (2) fire, (3) noise, and (4) food permits. Permitting is not inexpensive too, try close to $400, of which we use our own personal finances to cover this cost.  

Meanwhile later in the day, Peter and I were walking through the George Washington University campus. On the side of the road I spotted a Dunkin Donuts truck. So I commented to Peter.... wouldn't this be great to have at the Walk? So many of our attendees are looking for the coffee on the morning of the Walk. So we went over to talk to the lady inside the truck. Peter connected with Marti immediately and he did a great job pitching Mattie Miracle to her. 

Marti works inside the Community Cruiser. The Dunkin’ Donuts Community Cruiser is a mobile coffee truck that distributes free samples of Hot and Iced Coffee to the community! This truck can be found everywhere from sporting events and charity walks to college campuses and community parades.

This evening, I learned that Dunkin Donut's Foundation (Joy in Childhood Foundation), directly supports children with illnesses. So really we would be a good match for this truck. Marti gave us free samples, gift cards, and then told us how to request the truck for our Walk on May 20th. So we shall see, but the notion of a truck roaming around our DC community and giving out free samples is LOVELY! 

To learn more about the Community Cruiser, go to:

http://ddcommunitycruiser.com/dcbalt/

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. Mattie was home in between treatments and he and Peter spent several hours building this ferris wheel. This creation put a big smile on Mattie's face. However, our time at home wasn't usually this pretty or fun. For us, being at home was actually far more stressful than living in the hospital. Mainly because at home we were totally responsible for Mattie's medical care and his mental state. Which was very difficult to manage at times because Mattie dealt with constant pain, sadness, anxiety, and the ramifications of medical trauma. Meanwhile as all of these crises were unfolding, the clutter within our home started taking over. I couldn't process the amount of items..... gifts and toys given to Mattie practically daily from either his support community or at the hospital. All of these items were needed to bolster Mattie's spirits but at the same time I was overwhelmed with what to do with all of them. So you can see the pile that grew by the window of our living room. By the time Mattie died, I had piles everywhere and for over a year, I neither had the energy or desire to touch them.


Quote of the day: The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog. ~ M.K. Clinton

I was gone for most of the afternoon today while visiting my friend. When I got home, Sunny wanted OUT!!! Mind you he had a good three mile walk before I left earlier in the day. In any case, check out this regal pooch! He was thrilled to be outside and sniffing the breezes. 

I am fortunate to have an enclosed outdoor commons area. It is only in this space that I can let Sunny outside without a leash. He is always supervised but he loves the freedom. It is typically in our commons area that Sunny meets up with other doggies in our complex. As it turns to spring soon, our commons area will be transformed into a doggie playground at 5pm!

Our regal boy! You want to know what he is looking at? He is surveilling the commons area for squirrels! Sunny if left to his own devices would be a hunter. Lately I have noticed that he wants to stalk and chase Canadian Geese. I love geese, so I always pull Sunny away from a confrontation. Yet look what I saw on the road tonight..................










I literally saw this bumper stick on the back of a truck in Northern Virginia while driving home tonight. As soon as I saw this photo it dawned on me...... border collies like chasing geese! it is part of their stalking instinct. I never made the connection before seeing this sticker. 

Geese Police is a Canada goose/bird control company, which utilizes highly trained working Border Collies to herd Canada geese off client’s property. Geese Police get rid of Canada geese humanely using working Border collies.  

https://www.geesepoliceinc.com/home.html





Check out this five minute video on the use of Border Collies on the National mall. Sunny would LOVE to sign up!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=12&v=We_nfRzCDfI

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in February of 2006. Mattie was almost four years old and if you look closely you will see the mess taking place on our coffee table. Mattie was not only playing with his cars and trains, but he was covering all the vehicles with clay. Look at the fun he was having, but can you also imagine the clean up. Mattie loved playing with clay or playdoh and as long as it was somewhat contained, I never prevented his creativity. 


Quote of the day: There's just something beautiful about walking in snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you're special. ~ Carol Rifka Brunt

Sunny and I walked three miles in the snow today. Besides it being frigid out, most of the pathways we went on weren't shoveled. So trying to balance him and my umbrella, trudging  through four inches of snow was good exercise. 

Though Sunny grew up in South Carolina, the snow doesn't stop him. Sunny is about walking, experiencing nature, and covering territory.

We do a daily loop together around the Potomac River. Sunny loves this walk because there is always something to sniff, dogs to greet, and I should mention Sunny loves to stalk ducks and geese. I don't let him chase the birds, but if I let him off leash, there would be a few less birds in DC. 

This was on our way to the Potomac River. Though I am not a snow person or a cold weather person for that matter, I do love when the walk ways are not congested. I only experience this peaceful sort of DC when it is very cold or very hot outside. It is then, that you can appreciate the trees and birds around you without the noise and the ugly behavior of people. 

It was hard to see anything by the water, as fog had rolled in! But those trees across the way are on Roosevelt Island. As I walked through Washington Harbor, I passed maybe a handful of people. It was delightful! 

Mattie loved the snow and playing in it. I remember spending time outside in it so he could play. Sunny reminds me of Mattie, in the sense that they are not bothered by the weather in any way. With Mattie I learned to operate outside, regardless of the temperature, mainly because he seemed happier with fresh air and with the freedom that only nature can provide. 

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Tuesday, March 20, 2018 --- Mattie died 444 weeks ago today. 

Tonight's picture was taken in April of 2009. Back then we had NO IDEA that Mattie's cancer was rapidly spreading throughout his body. We thought there was still hope at this point. I am quite sure I snapped this photo because I thought Mattie was being whimsical! After all, check out the parking lot he had going on with his food container. Mattie LOVED toy cars, so much so, that he always had one in his hands or pockets where ever we went. 




Quote of the day: Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success. ~ Henry Ford


I love Henry Ford's quote, because in all reality it captures the sentiment that I share regarding the development of the Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families. In 2012, we brought together psychosocial leaders on Capitol Hill. That may sound easy to do, or a regular occurrence. But it wasn't! Our Symposium on Capitol Hill was novel, as NO ONE ever talked about the psychosocial issues associated with childhood cancer in such a forum. In fact, thanks to us, psychosocial care for children with cancer now has a voice on Capitol Hill. 

At the Symposium in 2012, the researchers we invited heard our call to action to develop Standards of Care. However, this core group of researchers, along with over 80 other health care providers from around the country worked on this endeavor for over three years. To this date, we are still working with the core team, as are mission has now turned to the implementation of the published evidence based Standards. Which will take time, as we are asking to change a the medical mind set of care. But we are all committed to this vision, as we do not want to see the Standards as shelf ware or viewed as just an academic exercise. From Henry Ford's stand point, I think the Standards initiative is a success. As there is a committed team of people determined to work together toward a common goal. 

A webinar went on-line today about our partnership with the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON). APHON was the first professional Association to endorse the Psychosocial Standards of Care. Standards which were Mattie Miracle's vision.

Mattie Miracle will be annually funding three evidence based practice grants ($10,000 total) for the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families. We are proud to work with APHON and are grateful to be included in the grant decision making process. 

I welcome you to listen to the webinar and view the slide show. The webinar is co-run by one of our core team researchers, Kathy Kelly (a nurse scientist at Children's National Health Systems, Washington, DC). Kathy does a nice job at giving an overview of the vision for the Standards as well as a timeline for the project. The webinar is extensive because it is trying to coach nursing professionals on what an evidence based practice grant is and how to apply for it. 

To listen to the webinar, go to:  http://aphon.org/education/webinars/ebp-psychosocial-standards-webinar

Monday, March 19, 2018

Monday, March 19, 2018

Tonight's picture was taken in March of 2009. We took Mattie to the circus that day. It was Mattie's first and last trip to see the circus. We were lucky to be given a private box to sit in, which was perfect given Mattie's compromised immunity. Nonetheless, Mattie came away with all sorts of circus gear and he literally made his way to every concession stand to see what they were featuring. Also in attendance were a couple of Mattie's friends from the hospital. They came as a group and sat in a different section. During intermission, Mattie met up with his friends in the lobby of the Verizon Center, and that made the occasion very festive and memorable for all of us. 


Quote of the day: Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community. ~ Anthony J. D'Angelo


In the midst of all the things I am doing for the Foundation today, I took on encampments and graffiti. In the past eight years, I have seen a drastic change occur within our Foggy Bottom community of Washington, DC. A community I have lived in for over twenty years. We have three major problems around us.... 1) tent communities (encampments), 2) graffiti, and 3) pot smoke everywhere. None of these things were evident when Mattie was alive. But slowly changes have unfolded and in so many ways each one impacts the quality of life for DC residents. 

I am sensitive to the plight of individuals who have fallen on hard times, maybe addicted to substances, and/or have a host of physical and mental health issues. Issues that cause significant impairment which prevent one from functioning in society. 

I am happy the District of Columbia has outreach teams that try to counsel our homeless residents to make better choices and provide them with access to needed services. Yet as I wrote to the Mayor's office today, I am concerned that there are little to no forms of recourse for residents who pay taxes as well as rent/mortgages with regard to this matter. 

Keep in mind this is our Nation's capital! Yet this is what a typical park in Washington, DC looks like. Tents everywhere, clothes strung on trees, some times there are grills cooking food and the list goes on. I will leave bathroom matters to your imagination. But that is a problem on warm days, because you can smell it. 

Right near the George Washington University is an enormous encampment. It takes up an entire city block. This is not a photo I took, but one that shows city officials cleaning this area up a year ago. However, one can do a clean up, but within a matter of a few weeks, it starts all over again. My biggest compliant with DC, unlike in Maryland and Virginia, is that there isn't a proactive program to address these issues. Instead, they are usually dealt with only when residents start complaining. 

This is a sight I see daily, at our exit off the highway. This encampment is right in front of the State Department. Who does nothing about this what so ever. What started as one tent, has multiplied. 

Then we also have massive and pervasive graffiti. If there is a clean wall, you know it won't be clean for long. I removed this nightmare last spring. But guess what, it is equally ugly now! 

Arlington and Alexandria, VA also have a graffiti problem, but I see what they do.... they proactively remove it! It doesn't stay up for years on end. 

Now this maybe the worst to me, because it is right outside my bedroom window. When I wake up, this is the first thing I see each day and the last thing I see at night. 

How do you like this art work in front of the Kennedy Center? What troubles me is I seem to be the only one bothered by all of this. I don't view this as artistic or a positive form of self expression. I view it as defacing private and public property and with each form of ugliness, this threatens our civilized and productive society. 

If you are down, sad, or angry, seeing this only adds another layer to these feelings. Or it does for me.