October 16

We are in Winchester, a town about an hour's drive from Chantilly, for a wedding tomorrow.

Everyone has a porch here, even if it's a tiny one. Winchester isn't like Chantilly. It's still neat and tidy but it's also a bit rougher. There are a lot of guys with shaved heads, beards and ugly tattoos. Are these rednecks? It feels rude to call them that, but what else can you call a man with a mullet in a vest?

I feel quite conspicuous. I didn't buy the New York Times in case it singled me out as an abortion-loving communist so I got the Washington Post instead.

People in this part of America are so nice to each other. So polite. Middle aged-women who have known each other for decades have conversations like:
"Oh wow, this is such great coffee!"
"You are not wrong! I got a little cinnamon in mine!"
"And how's that for ya?"
"Just delicious!"

That was an actual conversation I heard too.