Tokyo anyone??

The only hitch so far is that to start our trip we will no longer begin four blocks from the White House circulating among histories, anthropologies, embassies, and artistries from around the planet but huddles in a diferent kind of american mecca - Gaylord National Resort and Spa on the National Harbor in Maryland across from Alexandria by ferry... weird. sounds like fun?? maybe. It is basically a hug atrium MALL in a master planned, new construction condo community connected to NOTHIING!! So, we huddle and wait. It is the opposite of what I will be teaching so should make for an interesting model "Community Engagement: Increasing your Community Voice, Power, and Knowledge of Decision-Making." This place is a residence which nobody chose, is not organic, has no 'base' other than what an owner/developer, planner/architect, and government thought up!

But, as a mecca for conventioneering and new development it should be an interesting jumping off point for finding my own family history and beginning the journey as a new family with my very understanding and accommodating wife (who I had promised the Mayflower Hotel of Farragut Sq~!).

My U.S. ancestors who came over from Europe - well some began in New Sweden, while others began in Maryland. My grandmother's family who were Baptists, came from Maryland - and my mother and her siblings still manage 'ground rents' in many older parts of town that have been leased to 'owner tenants' for 100 years. Nice long income stream of nineteenth century rents... I learned more about this years back when I was at another NeighborWorks conferences with people from Baltimore who were more familiar with the history of these 'rents' than anyone in our family ever was...

While we are in the DC area our undefeated New Orleans Saints are playing the Redskins, (plenty of Irony in that one that could be blogged about forever). I sent the shout outs for wintry bleacher tickets; but, as yet, our 'miracle' tickets have not come through....

After Mary-Land, we will do a two day family tour of New Sweden and her capital Philadelphia. The clans Freeman/Ogilby/Shroyer/Clothier/Barnwell will all have drinks and supper at Uncle David and Aunt Ellen Freeman's home in New Town Square, PA. This will be a delight my aunt is not only a very accomplished chef, (her husband David the ultimate host!), but they have lived in the mainline area all of my life and travel internationally extensively - so we will plumb them for family history, travel tidbits, and delicious local flavor.

Brittany's Uncle David and Aunt Katrina Ogilby will be joining us Saturday evening for cocktails. It will be a real pleasure to introduce and meet so many members of each others' family in one fell swoop. We are hoping many cousins on both sides will join us. When they do we will update our blog with their news and ideas!!

Tokyo anyone??? From Philly we go to NYC, then Tokyo. When I was younger I visited Tok, Alaska where they had been fighting million acre fires. When the army got there they felt they were getting close... It could not feel very much further away as we prepare to leave NOLA. Luckily, we keep serendipitously running into people with knowledge, ideas, contacts, and memories to share. Just yesterday, I heard from an old friend Kevin Jones who gave me the best 30-second to-do list for Tokyo I could have imagined...

Anywhere on our journey, we would love to meet you, meet your friends, your family, or encounter past histories and adventures. We will be there 8 short days before we fly to Shanghai for XMAS and begin a journey through China. Hoping to hear/see you soon!