While in DC, I toured some Smithsonians* purely for my own entertainment and then played tour guide for my uncle and eleven year-old cousin at Arlington Cemetery. (Cousin: "You know more than my social studies teacher!") I also saw the Shakespeare Theater Company perform Henry V. And took a stroll by the National Education Association.
But it was Tuesday night when DC outdid itself for me on the geek front. It was called Judgment at Agincourt: the Mock Trial of Henry V. Presiding, the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Also Justice Samuel Alito and five judges from the US Court of Appeals. They played the role of the French Supreme Court. Top DC attorneys represented the plaintiffs (the French, suing King Henry for unlawfully invading them and the killing of POWs) and the defendants, Henry and the Archbishop of Canterbury. It was a lot funnier than you think. No, really.
It was also perhaps the single geekiest event I've ever attended, for the way that it combined legal, current events, literature, history, religious and civics geekery all into a couple of hours. I was, of course, a little bit fangirl-y regarding Justice Ginsburg. If I didn't think I'd be tackled by Secret Service personnel, I really might have waited outside the door with an autograph book and my camera, so as to accost her.
As it was, I had to settle for just getting to applaud at the end. They don't let you do that at the actual Supreme Court, so I have to think it was a bit of a thrill for Justice Ginsburg as well. See, we have so much in common! We're practically BFFs. Her SuperSecret BFF Code Name is The Gator. She hasn't given me mine yet, probably mostly because we've never met, spoken, or had any other sort of contact. (Justice Ginsburg: Call me! Or text or email or whatever.)
Thanks for the geeky memories, DC.
*Full disclosure: At the Portrait Gallery, I was most excited about the life-sized painting of LL Cool J. I'm still coming to terms with what this says about me as a person and how it affects my geek street cred.
