President #41

 It was a Golden late afternoon 
today as we looked at

 the Capitol and scouted for a parking place.

 This was the actual color of the building-
as it stood in the ray's of evening sun. 

Like it knew and honored the presence

 of the Late President George H. W. Bush.

And a light change in DC.

In less than five minutes the light went out.

And a cold early evening settled in.

                                                                                                                        -Pat Maier photo-

                                                                                      -Pat Maier photo-
We moved slowly with quiet reverence.

There was a chance to watch many people

 also standing in line.

My friend Pat Maier was in town
 and she joined John and I in line.

We waited and waited.
We told stories and more stories.

The cool breeze turned crisp

 and then downright cold.

For three and a half hours we moved

 through one set of gated barricades to another.

We finally got inside to the warm.

And more lines and more lines.

No photos in the rotunda.

Just quiet, 

with people standing with heads bowed.

Military guards standing tall and straight.

As people stood and remembered a man

 with quiet dignity who 

led with virtue.

A family man blessed with a 70 year marriage

 to his dear Barbara. 

 As we left they handed each of us this small card
with his service information to his country.

As we left,
 we gave thanks for a faithful leader.
We felt honored for a once-in-a-life-time
 opportunity to pay our respects.
May the Lord bless the Bush family.