Day One Hundred: Lincoln's Cottage

It was another day with multiple Firsts, but I'm choosing my favorite thing, which was Lincoln's Cottage. The Cottage sits about three miles outside of D.C. on the beautiful grounds of the Soldier's Home and adjacent to the original National Cemetery. The Cottage was a retreat of sorts for Lincoln during the Civil War, but it is also where he did much of the important work of writing the Emancipation Proclamation. The tour was fascinating and the guide really brought Lincoln to life for us and challenged us to think and act on "brave ideas," just as Lincoln did. I have always admired Lincoln and his presidency, but today he rose in my estimation even more.

Lincoln's Cottage

A life-size statue of a larger-than-life man

The National Cemetery

Day Ten: Andrew Jackson's Hermitage

We spent the morning at Andrew Jackson's Hermitage, which was my official first for the day. The grounds were beautiful, and the mansion was lovely. And, it was interesting to learn more about our 7th president.

Additionally, I less enthusiastically added the handicapped experiences of being ferried out to the mansion in a golf cart and viewing the mansion itself (first floor only!) from a wheelchair, for a couple of other firsts. It certainly gave me new eyes with which to see how difficult and inconvenient life can be for people who are under the same obligations I experienced today.

The Hermitage

The face on the 20