Back from DC

Well, I'm back -- tired but back. The trip was really good -- weather was great and we had a good group from Georgia that went. In all we had 8 people from several congressional districts with us. Our goal was to go to Capitol Hill and ask our leigslatures for increased money for research, a coordinated plan to deal with Alzheimer's nationwide and a better way to improve detection, diagnosis and care planning. Rep. David Scott had already signed on for these things and when we returned we got word that Sen. Chambliss had signed on to the bill representing a coordinated plan to deal with Alzheimer's. We met with Representative John Lewis and he was the most gracious man to us. What a civil rights pioneer he has been and it was a pleasure to meet him. He is also very supportive of what the Alzheimer's Association is doing and gives us his complete support.

I'll post some more photos next week -- I'm collecting them from other members that went with us. Thanks to Ginny and Kathy in the state office for setting up interviews and to the national office for putting this together.

I have posted one photo on top though. This photo was taken from Rep. Lewis' office -- rather breathtaking isn't it? The reason I am posting it is that to the right (the round corner building) is the building my son works in. I was going to walk from the Capitol over to meet him for lunch and to meet the judge he works for. I've mentioned the fact before that I have a problem crossing the street -- there are too many visual signals that confuse me. But, I didn't really think much about it when going to see Alan. I walked about 10 minutes from the Capitol and got down to the intersection you see in the photo near that building and I didn't know what to do. I couldn't cross the street. There were a few people milling around but they weren't much help. I thought about calling Alan but he said that he would come down to meet me so I didn't have to go through security twice. So, I stood on the sidewalk and waited for him. He finally emerged from the office building and started walking across the street toward me so I walked toward him. I feel so stupid not being able to do this, but it's just one of those quirky things. I wouldn't have attempted to do that if I knew that he wasn't going to be on the other end. I travelled alone to Washington DC but Alan and Jennifer picked me up at the airport and got me to the hotel just fine.

I got to meet many folks that I have been corresponding through email or through this blog at the conference. That is always great to be able to put a face to an email address.

Diane -- you asked about a scholarship -- I did get a scholarship from national and our state office to attend. I wouldn't have gone without it.

I will write more about the conference and add some more photos next week. Thanks for reading.