Skip to main content

For the 4th








I have a thing for our founding fathers. I know they may have had their downfalls, but I am in awe of their talent, brilliance, and ability to create a nation from scratch.  This is part of the reason I stalk presidential gravesites. I want to be close to them. I feel like those years took place in another world and I wish I was apart of it. This is why I LOVE places, like Philadelphia and Washington D.C. I love tracking all historical moments; the older, the better. If I ever have a son, the odds of him being called Benji Franklin or Thomas Jefferson are pretty high.

My favorite story about the 4th of July took place on the semicentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence (for those who don’t know that is the 50th year mark). July 4, 1826 is also the day both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died. Both men were at their homes, the former in his home in Massachusetts, the latter in Virginia.  Though these men loved each other, they had an adversary relationship. Adams always claimed he would out live Jefferson. That day there was a miscommunication (as you can imagine men riding horseback exchanging messages can make) and Adams believed Thomas Jefferson was still alive, but on his deathbed. Adams last words were “Jefferson Lives!” However, Thomas Jefferson had died several hours earlier. I love the poetry that both of these founding fathers passed away on the same day, and had lived long enough to see the fruits of their labor.

Thus, the 4th of July is naturally one of my favorite holidays. The year 1776 will always be ingrained in my brain. I think this anniversary, like most other holidays, becomes another excuse to shop for sales and get off from work. But the real reason behind this holiday is cause for celebration. Freedom is something we take for granted, despite our current struggles. But fighting in the revolutionary war was another story. Picture fighting without gear, through treacherous weather, against any enemy so powerful victory didn’t even seem like an option. Yet these brave soldiers continued to fight. This is one of the most beautiful characteristics of America.

So I hope you had some fun today watching fireworks, having a BBQ, or just relaxing. I even hope you managed to have a drink or two to toast our nation’s birth. After all, it was Benjamin Franklin who famously said: “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

Happy 4th of July!!!

P.S. If you are interested in a great read on the Revolutionary War, I suggest David McCullough’s book 1776:
http://www.amazon.com/1776-David-McCullough/dp/0743226720/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1309829403&sr=1-2

P.P.S. President James Monroe died on July 4, 1831 but he wasn’t trying to outlive anyone so it’s less exciting.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

For Find Out Friday - Why Do Emery Boards Make My Skin Crawl?

You know that sound a fingernail makes when it scratches against a chalkboard?  You know that feeling the sound of that action gives you? I, like most people, hate that sound.  I instantly feel like scrunching my shoulders up to my neck and closing my eyes.  I feel the exact same way when I am using an emery board to file my nails. This annoying sensation has a name: “grima” which is Spanish for disgust or uneasiness. This term basically describes any feeling of being displeased, annoyed, or dissatisfied someone or something.  It is a feeling that psychologists are starting to pay more attention to as it relates to our other emotions.  Emery boards are traditionally made with cardboard that has small grains of sand adhered to them. It is the sandpaper that I believe makes me filled with grima.  According to studies that are being done around the world, it is not just the feeling that we associate with certain things like nails on a chalkb...
Post a Comment
Read more

For Find Out Friday - Why is One Foot More Ticklish Than the Other?

As I sit here typing I can’t seem to stop thinking about my nails. Mainly that they REALLY need to get done. They are starting to chip and become unruly. As soon I as think about making an appointment my mind immediately returns to this question: “which of my feet will be ticklish this time?” Because I am a girl that needs her fingernails and toenails to match, I always get a pedicure whenever I get my nails done. And while this should be an activity I enjoy, it often feels like a chore, despite my going only once every three to four weeks. I know; #firstworldproblems.  Anyway, each and every time I get my toes done, as soon as they are done soaking in the bubbly water I wonder, which of my feet will be ticklish today?  Without fail one of them always seems to get the brunt of it and suddenly what was supposed to be a relaxing activity has made me all tense. So, is there a scientific reason for this?  According to most research, yes. While the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

For a New Chain of Mexican Fast Food: “Dos Toros Taqueria”

When it comes to fast food there are the names we are familiar with: McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, and Chipotle.  In you live in New York City, there is a new kid in town: Dos Toros.  Dos Toros is relatively new to this area but with any hope there might be one in your town soon.  Started by two brothers, Leo and Oliver Kremer, from Berkeley, California, the Mexican food you find here is inspired by food they loved growing up.  In California, the brothers grew up worshipping Gordo Taqueria, a favorite of Bay Area residents since 1977 (now promptly added to my San Francisco to eat list). Much of the recipes and even decor found at Dos Toros has been modeled on Gordo. Before moving to NYC in 2008, the brothers were living very different lives. Leo was the bassist for the band “Third Eye Blind”. Oliver fresh out of college, considered working in the technology or finance industry. Both disillusioned with their lives, they decided to pursue so...
Post a Comment
Read more