As you know, during the last three summers I spent time studying American History on trips with a group of teachers involved with the Teaching American History grant. I didn’t think that I was going to succumb to my inner geek this summer when we decided that we were going to St. Croix, but then I was offered a slot on a Gilder Lehrman Teacher Institute at Mount Vernon, Virginia. I just couldn’t resist. I arrived at Mount Vernon, home of George Washington, last night. There are twenty two teachers from all over the country here for this five-day seminar. We are meeting every day with a scholar (and Pulitzer prize winner!) named Gordon S. Wood to discuss the era of GW and enjoy living at Mount Vernon.
Last evening we had a picnic and a welcome. Then, a group of us walked to the piazza – the huge back covered porch of George Washington’s mansion, toasted The General, and watched the evening fall as the waters of the Potomac River slipped silently by. Wow.
Sometimes something astounding happens but we don’t realize it until it is over. Then we look back and think, ‘I wish I’d have enjoyed that more.’ This is not one of those times for me. I am SLEEPING AND LIVING at George Washington’s home for five whole days! If I could, I wouldn’t sleep, I’d just walk and look and sit and feel.
The deer park.
This morning I got up and took a solitary walk. I passed the deer park then moved on to the lawn area between the mansion and the river. I sat for a while on the low brick wall. Then I slowly made my way by the old family tomb and ended up at the dock area by the river. The Marquis de Lafayette arrived at this dock when he visited. Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, you know, all the guys hung out here. Today, no one was around. I had the estate seemingly to myself. That is, until the squeals and shrieks of two young hawks caught my attention. (They may be young, but they are very big!) As I watched, a larger one, I assume their mother, joined the two birds on the bare branch overhead. She handed over a large fish then flew off. I watched for about five minutes as the two juvenile birds scuffled and fought over that fish. I learned later that these are River Hawks, usually called ospreys. They are the only bird of prey to live only on fish. Their wing spans are impressive. Wow.
