Some of you may have read my post a week or so ago lamenting the Kennedy Center's mask requirement for Monday's Ben Folds concert. Most who responded figured many would not wear one and "as long as you have a beverage in your hand you can take it off." Far from it my friends.

Upon driving across the Potomac and entering the city near the Kennedy Center you are in the Georgetown/George Washington Campus area, a beautiful and upscale part of DC. The first thing I notice is that everyone, and I mean everyone, 50% of which appeared to be college students, were wearing masks - outdoors. Then I get to the Marriot Georgetown and they have a strict indoor mask policy and everyone is wearing masks unless they are at a table eating or in their rooms. Again, no exceptions.

Then onto the Kennedy Center. Vaccine card and ID check, no concessions (dammit), all ushers carrying signs that say "cover your mouth AND NOSE with mask" and everyone, and I mean everyone fully masked for the duration of the concert.

The entire DC experience was fascinating and so weird. It felt like May of 2020, long before the Covid vaccine. I am struck either by that city's dedication to conformance, or its fear, or its lack of confidence in the vaccine, or all three, or something else? Anyway, it was so different than anywhere I've been this year since I went back on the road for business around April/May.

So onto the concert. Folds played a Steinway piano on the stage, all by himself, no background or accompaniment - and yet was amazing. His fans who skillfully collaborate during each performance were amazing (if you haven't been to a Folds concert you cannot imagine), and while he played I forgot I was wearing a mask, which was nice. My son, who gave me the tickets for my birthday, sat at my side. A night I will always remember. I love you Michael.

It was my first visit to the Kennedy Center. It is impressive but wrt interior style it really looks like it was built in 1971. An iconic American venue, the outside remains impressive especially when lit up at night but after 50 years it needs an interior upgrade. Anyway, I've now been there and can check off that bucket list item.

We left in the morning and drove west outside the beltway. Stopped for breakfast. No one wore a mask. Spent the day in Leesburg, no one wore a mask. Drove home to Midlothian, outside of RVA. Almost no one wore a mask. As Folds would say, we're "Rockin' the Suburbs".

BTW I'm getting a booster vaccine next Monday - and afterward I won't be wearing a mask. Thanks for reading and Cheers!