Some Real History at Foggy Bottom

A little non bike racing for a moment. Mid-week I took a quick* trip down to Washington DC to see my brother graduate into the US State Department's Diplomatic Security Service. It made me incredibly proud to see my brother attain a goal he's wanted for so long. It was true proof that hard work and perseverance pays off.

The ceremony was held in the Benjamin Franklin Room at the Harry S Truman Building, aka Foggy Bottom. You've probably seen the room on TV when they sign treaties and stuff- so it's a really big deal to be holding something there. Despite my status as a dorky socialist vegan bike racer from the Happy Valley, I managed to pass the background check (they really did one!) and they let me in the building.

While waiting for the ceremony to start we mingled in the reception rooms, surrounded by millions and millions of dollars worth of historical antiques. My dad the auctioneer was flipping out at all the stuff they had in these rooms- from clocks to highboys to rugs. It was swank. Having grown up around auctions, I wasn't as impressed until I saw this:
That's Benjamin Franklin's desk from the Treaty of Paris, and in the case on top is a part of the Treaty. Even for a vegan socialist bike racer, to see a part of the document that ended the Revolutionary War is pretty powerful stuff. Growing up you learn to place a lot of emphasis on the Declaration of Independence, and rightly so- but this is the document that says "we did it"- that the 13 Colonies are free, sovereign and independent. It's sort of the other bookend to the Declaration in a way. It was kind of a fitting thing for the day- the end of a long arduous process, and the beginning of something great.

Congratulations Chris. You earned it.


*Quick except for the Beltway. 2+ hours to drive 30 miles? OMG.