Keep Fear Alive (for me anyway)

The possible trip to DC for the Stewart/Colbert rally is, to my mind, riskier than flying to Topeka. Remember, I'm doing my usual overanalysis. I probably have nothing to worry about. (repeat until believed)

* in an airport, you can't spit without hitting a security person. Nothing like that in the metro. Empty/lightly populated cars can be dangerous under normal circumstances.

* if the rally is the success they hope, then I'll have the opposite problem. There will be thousands of people getting on to the trains at the same time. I used to ride the New York City subway in rush hour. Overcrowded trains don't bother me. But I know that packed trains can be a different experience for women. Or someone who appears to be a woman. Or someone who appears to be a woman, but only at first glance.

* the mall won't be overcrowded, but where there's a large group of like-minded people, there are usually people freely chatting with strangers. It's a different dynamic than on the plane or in the airport where everyone is in their own shell. For the uninitiated: "the mall" refers to the area from the Washington Monument to the Capitol. Sometimes, it includes the area past the monument to the Lincoln Memorial.

* enthusiasm must be curbed. Shouting as a woman does not work for me!

* cameras and microphones will be in abundance. I don't mind being a tv, but I don't think I want to be on tv! I know I don't want my picture and voice on camera for broadcast. Someone will recognise my Noo Yawk accent and figure out the rest.

* the rally is from noon to three. That's a lot of time for me to be standing on my high heels.

I'm still not sure what the family/friend situation will be that weekend. I think there's a 50% chance that I'll be on my own that day. I'll update that over the next few weeks.