When I was ten, we went to Washington, D.C. for our summer vacation. The most memorable part of the trip, but not my favorite, was going to the Washington Monument. Dad thought it would be great to climb to the top and read all the memorial stones placed in the walls by the different states, cities, countries, benevolent societies and organizations. The line waiting for the elevator was also long and this way, we would not have to wait in the hot sun. Mom and I stopped reading these stones about the seventh stair landing. Dad did find the stone placed by New York State. It is located at the 240 foot level. The monument is about 555 feet tall. Mom and I were not impressed. When we got to the top, Mom said “We are riding down on the elevator.” Dad told her we couldn’t because we did not ride up on it. Mom told him “You walk down. June and I are riding.” Mom told me to follow her and we got on the elevator. Guess what, Dad followed too. I had undergone appendectomy surgery two months before and I was very glad to ride the elevator.