Sorry Dr King

Back in 2006, I attended a professional meeting of the Health and Science Communications Association in Washington, DC. I was serving as association president at the time, and used the opportunity to have the family along, as my Hilton suite was covered by the association for a week. The facilities and hospitality were unparalleled.

We stayed for a few days after the meeting, visiting the Holocaust Museum, the Smithsonian Museum-of American History, the Air and Space Museum, and landmarks including the White House, Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial, where 60 years ago Martin Luther King gave his “I have a dream”speech. Our visit literally ended with a bang; actually thousands of bangs at the 4th of July fireworks display. The visit was memorable and inspiring.

On July 3 of this year, I turned to Roula and said, quite matter-of-factly, “I wonder how many mass shootings there’ll be on the 4th of July?”, as we’ve come to expect now.

“There’s already been one.” She replied.

As of this writing, there have been 14, including one where at least nine people, including a child and a teenager, were injured in a shooting in the nation’s capital.

I’m glad we visited when we did, and fondly remember my good friend Lynn Povanda’s excitement in hosting my family at the fireworks display.

Sadly, I don’t think I’ll ever return. It’s just too dangerous. I have a dream too, and it involves living well into my retirement.