Pretending Along

Welcome to Washington

I've heard it said that DC is the only place in the country where, "Sorry, I was caught behind a motorcade," is a legitimate excuse for being late for an engagement. And it is, most District residents have waited in irritation as a Presidential motorcade shut down entire city blocks. Most recently, I waited 15 minutes to be allowed to continue my walk home down Columbia Ave while the President was arriving at the Hinkley Hilton for the Press Corps dinner.

But this morning I experienced a new one. I work across the street from the Washington Post building and apparently a dignitary (Pres, V.P. interim Iraqi P.M.?) was arriving to give an interview—why this could not occur in the White House, Capitol or dignitary’s hotel room (or over the phone), I do not know. I headed down to the lobby, intent on celebrating Friday with a heaping plate of greasy breakfast food from the weigh-and-pay buffet joint next-door. To my chagrin, when I attempted to exit the front door, I was told, in no uncertain terms by a heavily armed law enforcement professional that I could not, in fact, leave the building. I waited ten minutes or so before the street was filled with limos, police cars, police motorcycles, and SUVs, all turning into the Post’s parking lot. Try as I may, I’ll never get over the sight of men in the city armed with automatic weapons. This particular motorcade was complete with two or three black SUVs—windows down and rear hatches up—full of heavily armed men.