In about 24 hours I’ll be on the Metro going from National Airport to our hotel. A mass transit system is a thrill for a country boy like me. Figuring out the yellow, red, orange, blue, and green lines; buying the right ticket from the machine; the turnstiles; escalators; different platforms depending on which direction you want to go; making sure to get off at the right station; and doing it all with a look of confidence that doesn’t instantly give away the fact that I’m a stupid visitor—it’s all quite exciting.