Northern Virginia. I used to live here. My parents still do--that is if you can call being elderly and trapped with the high cost of living, heavy traffic and excess humanity here "living."

Due to their ages my parents are basically confined to a small territory within a few miles of their house. My father's age and limited vision, though he won't admit it, keep him from traveling to anything but familiar territory. One day he went for a doctor's appointment in Rosslyn and ended up lost somewhere in D.C. and Maryland--he didn't realize he had crossed the Potomac on the Key Bridge and he was too embarrassed to ask for directions.

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Well, I began writing the above when I was planning to head out on the road for the continuation of the journey. I didn't know then that returning to my parent's house for Christmas would turn out to be such an extended visit.

On December 28th my mother was hospitalized for almost two weeks. Soon after she was feeling better my father became ill. While he was hospitalized his sister ended up in the hospital as well. She may be confined to an assisted living facility...

More story and images here:

NOVA II