Now, anyone who has ever been into one of these wholesale clubs knows that they are very much about shock and awe. Nothing in these places is small. Big TV’s, luggage sets, fine china, furniture; they have it all.

After three months of living in DC there are just some things that I needed to stock up on. So, on the trusty Metro I go. After transferring at Rosslyn to the Blue line it was a quick trip past Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon to my final destination. Armed with two large LL Bean tote bags I trudged into Costco. I must admit that as I walked through the door in the back of my mind I was thinking “what the hell were you thinking, it’s just not possible to leave this place with a little of anything!”

As my cart grew more full the thought of the strain in my poor arms began to sink in. After spending way more then I had planned to (what else is new), I packed my two tote bags and trudged back to the Metro.

After fighting my way through the turnstile and down the escalator, I managed to just miss the train I needed. Sadly, the next train was 15 minutes away. After getting the once over from a friendly member of the Metro Authorities, my train finally came. I guess in retrospect I must have looked a little ridiculous carrying two heaping bags filled with frozen chicken, a pineapple, frozen pasta, and many other items.

After squeezing my way onto the train, I managed to somehow make it home. All along the way I was pushed, pulled, and yelled at for being in the way. I began to really question whether the chicken and produce was really worth the effort. I must say that this was certainly an instance where owning a car would have saved time, effort, and maybe just a few under-my-breath choice words for those who happened to get in my way.

I guess I’ll have to chalk this up to just another Washington, DC Experience. I will say that the chicken was delicious that night and the brownie bites that I bought weren’t half bad either. Next time though, I’m calling a cab!

One of the most powerful books that we read was Warrior’s Don’t Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals. This story chronicled the experiences of the Little Rock Nine. A chilling tale of determination, this book helped my students to better understand a very different time in our history.

Last Thursday, I had the good fortune, on the 50th anniversary of the Little Rock Central High School Integration, to attend the showing of Charles Guggenheim’s “Nine from Little Rock”. While only 20 minutes in length, the film was extremely powerful. You know that a documentary film is well done when, at some point in the film, the hair on the back of your head stands on end! That moment for me occurred half way through the film when the narrator exclaimed that “hate is easier to organize than understanding”. Sadly, 50 years later, news headlines indicate that this quote still rings true.

While seeing the film in itself would have been reason enough to attend this event, what followed was equally powerful. Two of the Little Rock Nine sat with a panel of civil rights leaders and others to discuss the film and the events of late September 1957.

I’ve always enjoyed learning about history, but have never had the opportunity to be a first-hand witness to history. To hear two people who were directly involved in such an important time in our past was personally intriguing.

This event, along with the many others that I’m sure to attend in the future, is why I moved here. A great deal of history happens in Washington – and I’m glad I’m here to take it all in.

To the naysayers, I can only say, why not? While Vermont is a wonderful place to live, it doesn’t have the endless opportunities that Washington does. I discovered while reading the paper this morning that more people ride the Metro each day to work then live in the State of Vermont. I find that kind of funny.

In any case, Vermont is my home but Washington is where I live (at least until the next opportunity presents itself)!

I can’t thank my family and friends enough for all their help as I open this new chapter in my life. I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!