Growing Up in Philadelphia and 4th of July

Being born and raised in Philadelphia I have to admit, we kind of take all this 4th of July stuff in stride. Don't get me wrong, we LOVE it, and its a big deal as you can see by the fireworks display above and you would be hard pressed to find a neighborhood in Philadelphia that isn't all out celebrating today. Thing is this, when you are raised in Philadelphia you are raised around the whispers and history of our fore fathers and every year for your class trips you go to all the places you read about in history books. Independence Hall, Betsey Ross's House, Liberty Bell, and so many other places that play such an important part in this day. It's in your blood, you know the stories by heart, you walk the streets these brave men walked when they went in to sign our Declaration, I say ours because that is what it was, they weren't doing it for them, they were doing it for us. They knew they were signing their death warrants but knew they were going to make this country a place for us to be free.

“I have no fear that the result of our experiment will be that men may be trusted to govern themselves without a master.” Thomas Jefferson

I am proud to be born an American, to be from a family that has shed blood for it's freedom. I am proud to know men and woman who feel as strongly as I do that she (America)is worth dying for.

30 DAYS OF ME --GRADUATION

DAY 19---A talent
I picked my talent...I am a supreme bragger about my son and I am really good at it (ok, so maybe that isn't a talent but I wanted to finally share some pics of the day). I have been having a heck of a time uploading these pics with the crappy internet here. So here are a few of the pictures. It was a great day, can't believe it is already over. Man..13 years and he did it and he did it with honor and we couldn't have been more proud. This is truly only a handful of pics from the day. It is Michael with all the people he cares about the most, his father, me, and his girlfriend. The pic at the bottom is of him and Cameron, his best friend for the past 4 years, I call them ebony and ivory, as you can see Michael didn't have time to tan..I love Cameron and miss him already. I think they both learned a lot from one another. He is a Marine brat as well. The pic of him with the 3 other boys are all from his JROTC Unit, and Cameron was as well just couldn't find him for that pic. I love the pic of him and his girlfriend laughing, it is so innocent a moment and I am happy I caught it on film. That is his grandma he is kissing in the one pic! We had a great time, a lot of people came a long way to share that moment with him. We love you all!

One of Those "LAST"

On Wednesdays for the last 4 years my son has gotten up and put on one of his uniforms for J.R.O.T.C. For the last 2 years he was either a Chief (last year), or Commanding Officer (this year)so he has been wearing his SDB's(Service Dress Blues). Well next week is the Navy Ball so we had his SDB's in the cleaners so he had to wear his Summer White Uniform, something he hadn't done in awhile. Anyhow long story short today when he came in from school in that uniform I realized it would be the last time he would be wearing it and I had to document it..I remember my little freshman so proud with his one ribbon for being "most improved cadet" at summer indoc and now looking at my fine young man and all he has accomplished since then. I know he is off to College R.O.T.C. and I will see him in uniform again, but today realizing I won't be there in the morning when he puts it on or the afternoon when he gets home made me choke up a little. Oh ya and I went and grabbed the camera to record it..enjoy!