At DCA, the tower guys are sharp; they clear me to land my Chrokee on
one of the two cross-runways while the big iron is landing or taking
off on the long one (18-36).

This is really past tense, isn't it? DCA (National Airport) has been closed
to general aviation aircraft without specific TSA waivers since 9/11.

Yeah, Tom, I suppose I should have added "ed" to that word "clear."

But the tower cleared me that way a number of times, so I thought of
it as an ongoing situation.

Obviously I haven't landed there since 9-11.

vince norris