Growing up in DC

You've all heard by now that I grew up in DC. A Native Washingtonian, born & raised -- and there aren't that many of us! And growing up there, we were exposed to a lot of things that other people 'outside the Beltway' are not. [Even calling the rest of the country "Outside the Beltway" is a DC thing. ;) ]

• The local news always has something to do with the President.
  
• You can get run down by a motorcade -- it may be the Prez, or the Veep (who nearly ran me down last year), or it could be a visiting dignitary from who-knows-where with flags waving. But don't worry, there will be nineteen motorcycle cops, three dozen cop cars, and twelve black SUVs letting you know that something is up.
  
• Museums are always free. And the traveling exhibits always stay for many months.
  
• Northern VA and the rest of VA are not remotely the same.
• You can tell when you've crossed from DC into MD, because the roads are better.
• "Going to the Mall" has nothing to do with shopping.
• Washington National Airport is and will always be "WASHINGTON NATIONAL" not "Reagan National”.
• A snowstorm brings the whole city to a screeching halt.

But the best line had to be from Salon.com today - a mother who took her 'tween' daughter shopping and was told, "Mom, I'm 11! I'm not Harriet Miers!" Way to be up on the political scene, kid!