When it rains, it pours

Whoever first coined this timeless adage must have lived in Washington, D.C.  For the record, Emily Hunter was not exaggerating when she warned me of the D.C.'s crazy tendency to have torrential downpours one minute, and a blue sky the next.

Where this all started: me, deciding that it was high time i took advantage of shopping in georgetown.  And what better incentive than a thursday afternoon free, and a sale going on at the gap?  Furthermore, I was going through J. Crew withdrawal.  So why not?  Sure I knew it had been raining on the mall all morning, and therefore this could be a bit risky, but what is life without a little risk anyway, right?

So my roommate Sarah and I decide to set out on this adventure after being nourished by Good Stuff Eatery and a classroom discussion on Vietnam.  We take the blue line to Foggy Bottom... everything is going along swimmingly until we get to the escalators leading to the outside.  Behold, the great flood.  One that rivaled the two other largest rains I have ever experienced that were inescapable (the first in grade school at Country Day when I was cheerleading at a football game.  the second on a saturday in april when i kindly volunteered to fill-in for a fellow tour guide, no good deed goes unpunished).  Sarah and I debate the next move... we had come this far.  So close to the georgetown we can taste it.  And let's not forget the $1.25 cost of traveling.  We decide to go on, nothing can stop my love for j.crew (particularly in prep capital of the world).  We determine there is a bus stop just across the street, surely there will be a covered structure.  So we bravely step onto the escalator and prepare to face our fate.  It was basically like riding into a shower.  Instantly we are soaked (did i mention i was wearing a light yellow shirt?).  We forge the river that is 23rd Street.  There was almost a causality, Sarah's flip flop.  It was rescued seconds before being taken with the current into the rain sewer.  Lo and behold, no glass enclosure in sight, so we take refuge under a tree.  Within 30 seconds a bus comes, and thank goodness it was headed to the beloved neighborhood of georgetown.  We hop on, and the bus driver kindly tells us we don't have to pay.  He also informs us we should perhaps cover up because we were soaked to the point that we would win a wet t-shirt contest on spring break. (thats second half were my words, not his by the way).  Also, fyi he was exaggerating, he could see my tank top, nothing more.   

We decide to get off when we see that beautiful navy blue square with white letters, and make our way across the street and into the sanctuary of the gap. In the meantime, of course the heavens open and the sun comes out.  Not a single cloud in sight.  Some BR, Zara (!!) and J.Crew (complete with a sighting of a real life wedding dress!!!) rounded out the experience. 

Never, ever question my dedication to shopping. period. 

One would think nothing more could go wrong after the adventure of getting to mecca, wrong.  Just as we arrive at the bus stop to take us back to a metro stop I slip and fall (mcts bus style).  

Tonight we are going to the Lewises (they own the wonderful real estate at 4 4th St.) for dinner! I am pumped.