(photo by james w. simmons)
it's the fourth fourth of july that i find myself in philadelphia. there are lots of fun things (did you know they actually ring the liberty bell once a year?) that happen here on this weekend every year (well, when everything isn't rained out), but there's been a moment each year that i get a little nostalgic for my favorite place to spend the fourth, monticello.
in case you're not a giant thomas jefferson nerd (i am, i admit it), monticello is the home that TJ designed for himself, just outside of charlottesville. each year, they have a naturalization / citizenship ceremony, with an amazing speaker who isn't a native-born american but chose to become american. it's pretty moving, (even if you're not usually a super patriotic person). during my time as a tour guide there (i told you i was a jefferson nerd), i got to see im pei and frank mccourt speak, and both were pretty amazing. it just kind of felt how i think the fourth of july is supposed to feel.
no matter how or where you're celebrating this weekend, enjoy! xo!
