Huzzah: Partying like 1751

March 16 is an annual opportunity for me to party like it's 1991 all over again as I celebrate my birthday.

This year, I had the opportunity to party like it's 1751 with my birthday friend James Madison.

Since we share a birthday, I thought it would be great to visit Montpelier, his estate on March 16.

I felt 2026 was a good time to make this idea a reality because this year marked 275 years since his birth.  At some point in 2025, Mom, Dad, and I made the arrangements.

Then came departure day on Saturday, March 14. It was a whirlwind of a day with two Confirmation Masses.  After I went to the Sunday Vigil Mass, I got my last minute details addressed with my luggage.  Then, fellow parishioner Brian took me to Chicago Union Station.  

Here's the information board.  My train, #41, is near the top of the Departures display.

As I walked into the entrance near the Jackson Boulevard Bridge at the Chicago River, I could see the distinct green color still present--please see the photo below.

Inside, there were throngs still lingering from festivities earlier in the day.  I managed to get through a line quickly at Sbarro to get a piece of sausage pizza, in the spirit of Pi Day--please see the photo below--and then onto Amtrak train #41, the Floridian.  It departed at 6:40 PM CDT.  (Please note that all times in this post are EDT, unless otherwise noted.)

After a flurry of activity all day, I settled down into my seat as the train headed eastward.

The following morning, on Sunday, March 15, the person sitting next to me departed early upon reaching Connellsville, PA.  I then slid over to the seat he vacated by the window and rested for a while.

A little later, I went to the dining car for breakfast.  A woman and her granddaughter sat on the opposite side of the table, and I enjoyed their company.  I had French toast with chicken sausage and a touch of berries and whipped cream, with caramel sauce--please see the photo below.

Looking out the windows offered great views of the scenery of the Appalachian landscape.  East of Harpers Ferry came views of the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, Metro Area.  A college student boarded at Rockville and took the seat next to me.  She moved once we reached Union Station.  During the time, I watched the livestream of Mass from BNSIC and a dedication ceremony of their new outdoor Stations of the Cross, and I passed right by the basilica while it was live.

At Washington, D.C., the car filled up again, mostly with people bound for Richmond.  As the train emerged from the tunnel underneath the US Capitol Complex and through central Washington, D.C., I heard a delightful exchange between a child and parent as they bid farewell to the city.  Then the train crossed the Potomac and entered Virginia, right at Arlington.  Continuing along, it was interesting to hear the conversations about life in Virginia, including its education system, during the approximately 2-hour journey south.  During that time, I watched the livestream of Vespers from the BNSIC.

The train arrived at the Richmond Staples Mill Road station shortly before 5 PM.  

I liked the mural that appeared at the Richmond station.

It was pleasantly spring-like as I stepped off the train and walked to the end of the platform and into the station building.  Within a few minutes, Mom and Dad arrived.  We decided to head for dinner at a nearby Cracker Barrel. During the drive, I returned the call from my friend Matthew.

It was wonderful to enjoy the offerings of Cracker Barrel.  At the end of our meal, I got beignets to take with me as my birthday month treat.

The server who brought us our food got this photo of us before we enjoy dinner.

We drove about an hour east to Williamsburg, where we were staying at the Club Wyndham Governor's Green Resort.  After settling in, I went to the Carriage House, which was the recreation center, and spent a few minutes in the pool.

The next morning, Monday, March 16, I awoke with a sense of excitement as I began my birthday, even though the faintest light of day was still emerging.

By 7:45, we were on our way for our day outing.  First, we drove about an hour to Richmond and stopped at St. Edward the Confessor Parish for 9 AM Mass.  The celebrant priest offered a great message about how being alive each day is a miracle, a message I heard from Matthew Kelly in a Best Lent Ever video, and it was fitting for this special day of mine.

Above is inside the sanctuary and below is the outside entrance.

After Mass, as I filled up my water bottle, Mom got a call from Montpelier saying that they were ending tours early that day because of impending severe weather conditions, and they offered to rebook us to an earlier time from our originally scheduled 3 PM tour time.  I said we could leave the church immediately and head straight to Montpelier.

We rode for a little more than an hour to get there, with some rainy periods at times.  After exiting I-64, we drove through rolling hills of central Virginia's farm country.  Close to Montpelier, I was delighted to see a rainbow appear just above the hills.

Shortly after 11 AM, we arrived.  It was raining steadily as we exited the car, and we went straight into the Visitors' Center.  We spent a while looking around while waiting for our tour time.  I got to see the wreaths that were intended for James Madison's gravesite as part of his birthday festivities, which was changed to an indoor ceremony.

Above shows all the wreaths in the meeting space in the Visitors' Center and below is a close-up of two wreaths in the collection.

Mural of the Constitutional Convention

Mural of taking down the George Washington portrait in the White House during the War of 1812

Mom photographed me by a bust of James Madison with a Happy Birthday sign.  Below, I appear with my US presidential portrait t-shirt

US Constitution display outside the Visitors' Center

Mom took me here posing with James and Dolley Madison outside the Visitors' Center.

The Visitors' Center

As the clock got closer to noon, we walked to the house for our noon tour.  There was a group of archaeology students from nearby James Madison University who were part of the group.  

Someone in our tour group photographed the three of us before the tour began.

After a brief wait on the porch, our tour guide Alyssa emerged and welcomed us.  The tour took us through the various rooms as Alyssa told stories about James Madison's life, what each room was, and some of the features.  I was particularly intrigued in the main parlor by several pieces of religious artwork, some specifically Catholic, including a bust of John Carroll, the first Catholic Bishop in the USA, and a giant painting of the scene when the Risen Christ breaks bread at Emmaus.  There were beds in rooms on both floors becuase at a certain point, Mr. Madison's health declined and he slept on the main floor, and Dolley then did, too.  We finished our tour on the upper level in the library room, which was filled with numerous books.

Main entryway

This room was near the entrance of the house. So far as I can remember, Alyssa told stories about it connected with James's childhood and parents.

An early version of a piano in the main parlor, with portraits of James and Dolley

Painting of the Emmaus scene in the main parlor

Bust of Bishop John Carroll, the first Roman Catholic Bishop in the USA

In the main dining room, Alyssa tells stories about visitors to Montpelier.

Dolley used this space as her bedroom when James's health made him unable to reach the 2nd floor later in life.

A globe in the corner of the room shown above.

Here's a desk for James Madison in the room on the main level that had his bed, which is shown below.

Above and below are views of the upstairs bedroom that James and Dolley shared.

Inside James's personal library room

Mom photographed me inside the library room.

A view out a window looking onto a ledge.

Upon finishing, we walked back to the Visitors' Center.  While Mom stepped inside, I dashed over to the family cemetery to see the graves there.  Once I got back to the parking lot, we began our journey to the next stop of our outing.

About 40 minutes later, we were in Charlottesville and arrived at Michie's Tavern.  I have fond memories of lunch there on past vacations, so I was glad Mom suggested it for this day.  The meal was as memorable as in the past, with a great buffet of Southern food in a splendid 18th Century atmosphere.  The offerings included fried chicken, pulled pork, stewed tomatoes, green beans, and biscuits.  For dessert, we shared a peach cobbler.

One of our wonderful servers photographed us right before we started lunch.

  

Here's my lunch tray.

Peach cobbler a la mode for dessert

Inside Michie's Tavern, showing the doorway leading to the buffet self-serve area

The view from the Michie's Tavern parking lot

Mom photographed me in front of Michie's Tavern.

Filled by our wonderful lunch, we began our journey back to Williamsburg, and arrived around 5 PM.

A little while later, we played Scrabble.  Then, we had a light dinner, which included chicken meatballs.  Right as I was about to share Scripture and then be serenaded in front of a muffin with a candle, the Ruggabers called, and we chatted briefly, which was notable because they lived for many years near Williamsburg in Newport News.  Once I finished that phone call, we shared Scripture, and then Mom and Dad sang for me.

Our Scrabble game

In front of my birthday treat, as photographed by either Mom or Dad

The predicted stormy weather had passed by that evening and there was a splendid sunset that we could see from the window doors leading to the patio of our unit--please see photo below.

The next morning, after I had breakfast, Dad and I went to 9 AM Mass at St. Bede Parish.  I have fond memories of Mass there many years ago and I was glad to be back in the round sanctuary encountering the Lord.

Exterior of St. Bede

Interior of St. Bede

After we returned to the resort, I did some last-minute tasks and packing.  Shortly after 11 AM, we three departed for the Richmond Staples Mill Road Amtrak Station, arriving around 12:30 or so.

Mom photographed me inside the station

Train #1040, which I rode back to Chicago, appears at the top of the Train Information display.

I waited about an hour and a half for my train, spending the time surfing the Internet.  The train arrived around 2:30.  As it headed north, I put on The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.  

Ashland, VA

At the Alexandria Amtrak Station, I could see the hotel where my parents and I stay during our yearly Washington, D.C., Area trips, past the King Street-Old Town Metro Station.

The train crossed the George Washington Memorial Parkway before exiting Virginia.

I can see two different Acela trainsets.

Crossing the Potomac from Maryland into West Virginia at Harpers Ferry.

It was splendid to see the WDC Metro Area and then view the trains moving in and out of Union Station.

The next morning, there was a splendid sunrise as the train crossed from Ohio into Indiana.  The ground was covered with a light snowfall.  The train made great timing and arrived at Chicago Union Station around 9:30.

Sunrise

West of South Bend, I could see the South Shore Line tracks.

The engine of the train I rode upon arrival at Chicago Union Station.

To access our unit and other areas of the resort, we got wristbands, which had printed on them, "Live your bucket list."  

Yet rather than think of myself in a frenzy to complete certain things before my death, I prefer to focus on making the most of this life with meaningful experiences that are part of my "Golden List".  I am glad that this trip gave me the opportunity to complete a Golden List item, which was to visit Montpelier and to do so on March 16.  Even with the rainy weather, I felt like I was walking on sunshine.

I have visited many homes of presidents and other figures from history, and doing so is an opportunity to connect with the person on a deeper level, and even the times in which the person lived.  I liked how the narration of the tour at Montpelier drew upon what was in the room to share stories about James Madison's, as well as Dolley's.

It was fitting that on the day I reached the age of 35, the minimum age to be eligible to be US president, that I visited a presidential home.

I was glad to share this "Golden List" experience with Mom and Dad.  I'm grateful for all they did to arrange for our time together, and for Dad's chaffeuring.  It reminded me of our Williamsburg vacation in the summer 2009, which was a great time.

In this year marking the 250th Anniversary of US independence, it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with James Madison's story, who contributed so much to this country.  We can ponder what the USA is about by looking more closely at the founding era, and then consider how we can draw upon it to build up this country today.  Virginia had so much to contribute, and its founding era history is still very much on display.  The 18th Century touches, especially on houses, make Virginia so classy.

Traveling by train was a great way to connect with this country, taking another ride on a route that I've become so familiar with, a ride that connects me to the heart of the USA and its founding principles.  At the time of year when I celebrate my birthday, it was a wonderful way to experience what brings meaning to life.

This trip had so many ways to connect with history.  As I celebrated the start of my own life story on my birthday, this year I saw it in light of the story of James Madison's life and I could see my place in the incredible story of the USA.

Display at the entrance of Montpelier

Dad photographed me by the door of our unit.  I celebrate my birthday on March 16, and in 2026, the 250th Anniversary of US independence, I connected with James Madison's part in the story of the USA.