washwords

Washy makes Washpost Express !  [Edit: I forgot to mention a big washwords shout-out to bloggy pal Liz of What Liz Said. Here I was doing the crossword, reading my horoscope ON THE VERY NEXT PAGE!!!, completely missing that I, Washwords, had achieved interweb and print fame! Above the fold! (and sumo wrestlers or something!), page 28 of the better of the two throw-away morning commuter papers. Right after the classifieds! But before celebrity news and the crossword! Wow. I’ve hit the B I G T I M E.

Liz was kind enough to let me know, messaging “hey, guess who made Express today?”.

Me: You, again? Grumble.

Her: Smile.

Me: clickity click over there… hey, it’s me!!! ME! (then promptly commenced sending e-bulletins to everyone I’ve ever known. I’m shy like that. and modest, too.)

» “I LOVE THAT THEY survived doing what they do — the simplicity of half-smokes and chili — and doing it well for 50 years. “

Washwords.com was moved to tears while attending the 50th anniversary celebration of Ben’s Chili Bowl, adding, “the scene there was just so nice. Really, truly nice.”

So yesterday, after work, I decided to just take the green line home to stop at Ben’s and pay my respects for their 50th anniversary Ben’s Chili Bowl Celebrates Fifty Years With Three Free Events This Week! « Capital Spice.

Granted, it was a beautiful summer night, I’m a bit emotional (even for me), in love, and generally happy and seeing the good in the world.

But the scene there made me teary. A happy teary. Because the scene there was just so nice. Really truly nice. The nice that’s not an insult.

[Photo on flickr by “Jim Darling”Ben’s Chili Bowl 50th Anniversary on Flickr]

Whether it was the rocking music, “We’ve got the funk….” the diverse line streaming down the sunny U street, the cheery smiles, the infamous sign: “Who eats free at Ben’s? Bill Cosby. And NO ONE else,” I was moved. Moved to tears. The man in front of me said “I’ve been here since waaaay back in the day.” I told him I hadn’t been but I love the stories. I love that they survived doing what they do – the simplicity of half smokes and chili – and doing it well for 50 years.

I love that they made it, that they kept on keeping on through the painful days, the ugly days in our history and DC’s history. I love that they love what they do, and have stood for justice and freedom and equality without preaching, without anger or vitriol or indignation (even when they had a right to!).

I love the half smokes and that my friend took me there as a must-see when I first was single in the city, newly divorced, hurting and lost and new to everything again. And Ben’s was home, my new home. And now as I prepare to leave the city in a few months, it is comforting to me to know that things will remain the same. Here’s to you Ben’s – I hope to be there for your 100th!

The image of “Lolo” hitting that 9th hurdle, losing the gold and decades of work in a millisecond (literally), and falling to the ground in despair, keeps coming back to me.

[Photo on flickr by “horsepower and heels.”]

Likewise, Shawn Johnson’s parents’ tearful embrace, her bright-eyed bobbing smile, and Debbie Phelps’ hurrah-ing off her chair can’t help making me smile and tear up for a different reason.

The worst question a sports reporter can ask may be “So how did it feel to ______?” (Insert “fall off the balance beam/ score the winning goal/miss the tying kick.)

But the thing is, how DOES it feel? To put so much into one thing, one moment? Is it worth it? Does it last? Not the endorsements and the money, which surely is great… does the glow last, does the feeling of accomplishment?

When I’ve had feats of glory, in my smaller world – getting something published, winning a prize in school, receiving praise at work – I feel glowy for … usually about an hour to a day. Then I do remember the moment, stacked in some mental list of accomplishments I logically know are there, but I don’t FEEL it. The minor slips (the embarrassing mistakes, the not trying hard enough, the putting eggs in the wrong basket)… seem to last longer, proportionally. Why?

Washwords’ Writing Prompt: How long do your missed hurdles last? What do your getting-the-gold moments feel like? Which do you carry with you and why or how? Leave your micro essays below as comments or email me.