Work can be really stressful - it's a fact of life. Especially when you're doing what you're supposed to. It's hard sometimes to look around you and remain motivated to keep doing your best when maybe you feel like you and everyone else aren't on the same page. However, I've learned that sometimes that's why you can't look around at others. But you can always take a break to get your perspective back!
So, after a semi-hard close to the week, I decided to pick up and take off for the day to Mount Vernon in Alexandria, VA. If you're unfamiliar with Mount Vernon, it's the place that George Washington, the first President of the United States, called home. I had been there once in elementary school and remembered virtually nothing from the experience other than sneaking clear gatorade onto the bus in a water bottle because they told us we could only bring water. I think there may have been some period costumes involved too.
Mount Vernon sits on 8,000 acres with access to 10 miles of shoreline on the Potomac. George, when he wasn't being the head of the Continental Army or the Commander-in-Chief, enjoyed the outdoors. In the fall and winter, he was an avid duck and fox hunter. It was also a ritual to collect ice off of the river to save for the summer months. He loved fishing and could collect 1.5 million herring and shad in a single season, saving enough for a year's worth of food and selling the rest. He also hunted deer and hare on his property, partially because they caused crop damage. He walked the forest trails often and considered Mount Vernon to be a place of solitude and serenity.
Although most people remember George Washington as our first president and a daring general from the French and Indian and Revolutionary Wars, he seemed like a compassionate, level-headed man. He stood at 6'2 1/2" while his wife, Martha, who had a bit of a shopping problem, was only 4'11". She was widowed, and had 4 children from her previous husband - only one would make it to adulthood. They never had children together, but he raised her children as his own and had tons of grandchildren running around his estate all the time. There are actually 30 family members buried on the estate.
Out of everything to see, the Wharf was probably my favorite part of the estate. It was frigid today, with temperatures in the single digits and the wind chill making it feel below zero. But I could immediately feel the peace and tranquility that accompanies walking along any body of water. The Potomac was so easily charming, freezing over in the January drafts. Canadian Geese, Mergansers, and Canvasback ducks landed in the few spots in the river that were still open. The grey sky, when I wasn't too busy thinking about the gusts of wind and the chill creeping up my legs, made the river seem friendly and protective. I pictured Washington coming down here in the warmth of the spring or the evenings in the summer with the sky full of stars. Whether or not he contemplated issues or tried to clear his mind, I didn't know. But either way, it was lovely.
Mount Vernon, I'm sure, has charm no matter what season you go. But something to remember is that winter is definitely their off-season. With more than one million visitors a year, it can be quite busy during the warmer months of April through September. The distillery that belonged to Washington (yes, that's right, he made his own booze) is open April through October, and you can buy a bottle of his original recipe Rye Whisky for a pretty penny. Also, the winter months are when a lot of restorations happen in the mansion. We weren't able to see a few rooms altogether, and a couple of rooms were emptier than usual because of this. As well, his 16-point barn was locked, there were hardly any plants growing in his gardens, and the animals were all put away because of the temperatures. As you can guess, no one was dressed and roaming around in period costumes when, during the spring and summer, they are abundant. The forest trails were closed or roped off, but the gift shops were warm and welcoming. On the upside, though, if you enjoy smaller groups, less crowds and the charm of the winter months, Mount Vernon can be lovely this time of year. We didn't have to abide by the tour time on our tickets and the movie theater and visitor center were practically empty.
Cardinals, with their bright red feathers, stood alone among the white snow and green pines. The emptiness of the estate made you feel like you owned the place, although it felt a bit like a scene with a bad ending straight out of Cold Mountain from time to time. You could spot raccoon and fox tracks in the snow and visit the place where he and his wife's family are buried. If you've been to Monticello, you know that Jefferson was not timid to show off the things he enjoyed. While Washington's estate is impressive, it's not on the same scale. However, he had just about everything he needed at his fingertips. With a smokehouse, wash house, sewing house, paddock and more, he really never needed to leave. It felt small and intimate, like Washington, at any minute, would walk out the front door and usher you in from the cold, immediately engaging in warm and invested conversation.
If you can spare the drive and the $18 to get in, it's definitely worth the trip. If you're in the military or a senior citizen, you can get discounts. American pride is invested heavily in George Washington's persona - he was humble in his roles of authority, fierce in his convictions, and loyal to his loved ones. I mean, most of the 21 rooms in his mansion, which he expanded twice from its original size, were for guests . . . well, grandchildren mostly.
You can also check out his insane pair of teeth in the educational center. It's a pretty cool sight to see. And, ending with the title of this post, and his eulogy: George Washington was known to be "First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen."
