08 May 2004
Louisa Shepard
Carrie came to visit us in Washington when she was five or six years old, traveling with her Dad on a business trip. Gabriel and I were living in a little apartment on Capitol Hill. That day marked the first that I had been with Carrie by myself, taking care of her, all on my own. So it was new for both of us.
She was thrilled to be on this adventure of a day with me. We set out with my long list of plans, heading down Fourth Street, walking with Gabriel to the Metro. We had a camera and she wanted pictures, so we took one on the way, Carrie and Gabriel in front of a grand gray house on A Street.
We went to see money made, the sparkly ruby slippers, the monuments to Washington and Lincoln, where I showed her the image on the back of the penny, just like I had her big brother Luke on his trip. Looking back, now with three little boys of my own, I realize I planned to do way too much in one day. At some point, despite my ignorance, I must have caught on, because we ended up back in the apartment, playing beauty parlor.
Eye shadow, blush, and, of course, lots of lipstick, many trips to the mirror, stretched out on our futon of a bed, we whiled away the afternoon. She brushed my hair. I brushed hers. Carrie was so dear.
When Jeff picked her up we talked about all the things we’d done. I wondered what she really thought of it all. Would she remember her trip to Washington, the monuments, the museums, all these important things?
Turns out she did…Her favorite picture was the one with Uncle Gabriel, and her favorite activity was beauty parlor. Mine too.
Louisa
May 2004