I posted a mini-post about Rachel and Drew yesterday, which you can see here. I also posted a picture-post, which you can see here. So this post you're reading is the final one! 

We got connected through a mutual friend named Laura Ann. All four of us—me, Laura Ann, Rachel, and Drew—went to Samford (well, I still go to Samford). I knew that Rachel had been in Samford's great books program a few years ahead of me, and we're also in the same sorority (and had the same position as house manager! holla). Also, Drew and I were in the same honors society, and we carried leftover bagels to the SGA office together one time. Which I'm sure he remembers.

But when I reached their apartment on Thursday, the three of us figured out  (yes, this story is going somewhere, surprise) the craziest connection: Rachel and Drew and I went to Italy together in January 2016. 

Guys. I had been 5139 miles away from Samford with these people for three weeks, and we didn't figure it out till I was in their apartment in D.C a year and a half later.

How did that happen? Well, technically our trips had different excursions. But we stayed in the same hotels and had the same time off and all the professors were friends and both trips were small numbers of Samford people, so it's still weird that we didn't know we were there together. 

Rachel has been living in D.C. for about a year. She had an internship here last fall and was offered a job at that company in January. She and Drew got married June 4th, and he moved to D.C. soon after. 

Below is a picture of their apartment, where Rachel's been living since earlier this year. For the first week or two that she lived here, before her dad and Drew drove up with her furniture, the apartment was empty. Picture that room (and the kitchen and bedroom) with nothing but an air mattress, her clothes, a casserole dish, and a bowl. One bowl. 

When Drew and her dad arrived with furniture, she'd made them dinner in her one casserole pan, so they sat on the empty floor and shared the food our of one bowl. It's a random story, but it made me laugh. And now it looks like this! Probably at least two bowls now! (jk there were plenty.)

Anyway, their apartment is fully functional, unlike those first two weeks, and it was darling.

Well, it was fully functional till I dropped in. Here's the living room normally (so cute!): 

And here's the living room with a guest. Still cute! Actually, so so cute. Look at my little bed! I was so excited when I saw it. But I did laugh, because Rachel and Drew let a stranger take up a few dozen of their apartment's few hundred square feet. 

Three pillows! Three blankets! Extra sheets (on that white chair) in case I preferred to sleep on the couch! I bet the Ritz isn't even this thoughtful.

When I said back in April that I wanted to visit everywhere, and meet everyone, I meant it. But I am only half of the equation. The other half is the home, the people who have to scoot their stuff over and find extra clean towels and take into account another human stepping into their world.

I didn't know if anyone would respond. People did, clearly, and I've been so thankful for each shadow location so far. But Rachel and Drew submission was different. They're the youngest people I've shadowed so far. They have the least amount of space. And when you have less of a thing, it takes more of your heart in order to give something away. Like that story in the Bible, where the widow who shared one Oreo gave more in Jesus' eyes than the rich people with dozens of Torah-themed sugar cookies (message version, sorry). I think when there's less physical stuff in your life to give from, then there's something in your spirit that really does the giving.

And that was the case with Rachel and Drew. They worked around the inconvenience that was me for three days, digging up extra Metro cards, making me an air-mattress bed, offering me coffee and cereal and brunch with their friends. 

And it was amazing! Because they're amazing. And the gift was even sweeter, because it was trickier to give. Hospitable, kind, generous—Rachel and Drew. 

Here's a picture-exploration of my time in our nation's capital. Later tonight I'll post my final D.C. post, which is about ~the amazing~ Rachel + Drew. To tide you over till then, a chronicle of my camera roll.

Here's the newest Smithsonian: the National Museum of African American History and Culture. WOW isn't it pretty! Just so you know, you have to buy tickets ahead of time online. Thankfully, the security guard was sweet and let me in without one. So kind!

Also, the museum had a first-edition pair of Nike Air Jordans. Beautiful. I also had listened to a podcast about the political and racial implications of dunking when it was introduced into the game of basketball in the early 80's (did you know it was banned for a while?), so seeing that shoe in that museum was even more powerful + interesting.

If you'd like, give that episode a listen here. It also taught me the creation story of basketball: a bunch of students were stuck at school in a snowstorm, and a teacher hung peach baskets on opposite walls of the gym and made them compete to toss a ball into the baskets. The episode also touches on the creation of the three-point shot, and lots of other things I hadn't even realized I didn't know about the sport. Even if you aren't a huge basketball fan (I'm not!), I'd recommend the episode. And the podcast 99% Invisible generally. It's a great one.

After Rachel and Drew got off work, the came home and read.

Just read.

Sat on the couch, opened their books, and read them. Didn't even check their phones first. It was magical. 

Later that night, we went to a dinner for newcomers to their church, then stopped for ice cream sandwiches at Captain Cookie, then walked around the monuments at night. I hadn't seen MLK before; it's beautiful.

The following low-quality picture is important for two reasons. First, it features my omelette, which Drew made. Here's a fun fact—Drew took enough cooking classes in high school to test out of the first semester of culinary school. Casual. Second, it's important because if you above the omelette in a straight line, you'll see a glass thing and a red thing. The glass thing is a Chem-X, which makes pourover coffee. The red thing is a French Press, which makes a darker roast. And if you squint and look under the cabinet on the left, you'll see their espresso machine. So yes, they're a little bit into coffee.

On Saturday night, we went to a baseball game in Baltimore with two of Rachel's coworkers. I'd just listened to a podcast about the Orioles stadium, Camden Yards, which made it super fun to see in real life! Short version: Camden Yards, when it was built 25 years ago, became the archetypal ballpark that many other parks around the country are based on. The architects chose to shrink the size of the outfield in order to accommodate the historical warehouse nearby (see the brick in the back of our picture!), which allowed the stadium to blend into its urban environment. Here's the long version of the podcast!

We're the same height! Both of us have tiny friends, so that was a nice perk for picture-taking. It's the little things, ya know?

Drew and Rachel had some friends over for brunch on Sunday. Look how fancy-schmancy! (Is that a real phrase?) Anyway, this is basically a picture of all of my favorite foods. Their friends Austin and Katie were sweet and fun and it made me want to host brunch parties every day of my life. 

I'll put up the last post soon, which is about their hospitality and kindness. For now, hope you enjoyed this picture-chronicle of my weekend as a sort-of local in our nation's capital!

I arrived in D.C. on Thursday evening. I'm staying with Rachel and Drew. They both graduated from Samford. Rachel works at a think tank in student engagement, and Drew works with data and it's complicated and pretty cool but I don't really understand it.

Here's the schedule from Friday—nothing too exciting, I didn't doodle (I know you're sad because I'm such a good draw-er) or make it funny (read: funny to me) or anything. But regardless of the plain delivery, the day itself rocked. I had some free time while they were at work, so don't get confused thinking they did tourist-y things all day.