Today marks 250 years since the July 11, 1767, birth of John Quincy Adams, politician and 6th president of the United States.
With many individuals, they are born in relative obscurity, and then through various circumstances rise to prominence. I'm aware of this being the case with many US presidents, having read their biographical profiles.
But John Quincy Adams was born in a prominent position, because his father, John Adams, was a well-known figure at the time of John Quincy's birth in 1767, and John Adams grew only more famous in just the next few years when the American Revolution got underway, even before becoming the 2nd president of the United States.
Yet John Quincy has a notable and fascinating life story all of his own, and this occasion takes me back to 7th grade when I did a book report project on a biography of him. After growing up in a privileged position and in a family that was significantly involved in the American Revolution, he established himself in his own right serving in government positions, starting when President George Washington appointed him US ambassador to Netherlands. He served in other ambassadorship positions, including the ambassadorship to Prussia, which his father appointed him to, which is fitting because he spent time with his father while John Adams was in Europe serving as US envoy to secure support for the United States in the American Revolution, and then later as official ambassador once the United States was officially independent. (And foreign diplomacy service became a family tradition for the Adamses in succeeding generations.) While serving in Europe, John Quincy Adams developed a relationship with the daughter of US diplomat, Louisa Catherine Johnson, whom he eventually married. She was the first foreign-born US first lady, with the second being current US First Lady Melania Trump. Also while in Europe, John Quincy Adams collaborated with the British in negotiating an end to the War of 1812 with the Treaty of Ghent.
All this work serving the US abroad led to John Quincy Adams's becoming US Secretary of State, which gave him an important part in composing the Monroe Doctrine, as well as securing Florida for the United States. The Secretary of State position became a springboard to the US presidency for him. Both campaigns he ran in were particularly unpleasant, and he only became president after the election went to the US House, after none of the four candidates got a majority of electoral votes, which allowed him to become president without winning the popular vote. He got mired in the big debates over the role of government and tariffs, even while during his presidency, the United States made great strides in development and enhancing infrastructure, and even welcomed the Marquis de Lafayette, who came for a tour throughout the United States.
Then, John Quincy Adams went back to Congress, serving in the US House, after having served in the US Senate decades before. It was also later in life that he defended the slaves of the Amistad before the US Supreme Court. He ended up breathing his last in the US Capitol, collapsing during a session that was debating matters related to the Mexican-American War.
Talk about quite a span of history he witnessed in his lifetime, from the days of the American Revolution, when the nation was coming into existence, all the way to the days when the United States started flexing its muscles.
One of the episodes of the PBS children's series Liberty's Kids gave a fascinating look at the life of the Adams family, and how precocious John Quincy was growing up, surely a reflection of his notable circumstances, and the stellar education he got. At the beginning of that episode, Benjamin Franklin tells John Quincy how the responsibility of steering the course of the new nation will one day be upon him and those of his generation. And to think of all that John Quincy Adams would accomplish in his lifetime. It truly is incredible to watch that scene and realize that Dr. Franklin is talking with a person who will one day become president of a country that was still in the making at that moment in time.
This occasion provides a great opportunity to remember all the remarkable people who witnessed significant parts of United States history, and the contributions they made.
So here's a salute to John Quincy Adams at 250.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Sunday, July 2, 2017
Patriotic Greetings 2017: What the US is All About
Patriotic Greetings!
It's that time of year again that takes us back to the principal events at the heart of the foundation of the United States of America.
Following decades of colonial rule, tensions flared between Britain and the 13 British North American colonies in the years after 1763, when conflict between Britain and France concluded. After more than a decade, American and British soldiers clashed at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, sparking the American Revolution, and the drive toward independence gained momentum.
On June 7, 1776, in a session of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee offered the following resolution: "Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
After taking about three weeks to consider it, the Congress debated the resolution on July 1. On July 2, it passed unanimously, with a "yea" from each voting colony. Congress then turned its attention to the draft of a document that Thomas Jefferson composed, explaining the reasoning for independence. They adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
The American Revolution continued until a decisive American victory at Yorktown, Virginia, led in earnest to peace talks. The war concluded with Britain recognizing US independence with the Treaty of Paris 1783 on September 3.
The story of those events is central to what the United States is about, and who we are as US citizens. And to think of what this country has become in the years since, and how our understanding of what this country is and what it means to be a US citizen has come to encompass so much.
I've had plenty of experiences over the past year that have given me new perspectives on what this country is all about.
Certainly, I gained many insights on what this country is about last summer when visiting Independence Hall and other historical sites in Philadelphia that are at the heart of the founding of the United States.
After seeing where this country and its government got started, it was an incredible experience to see our governmental process in action, serving on the frontlines of this action as an election judge in November 2016 and April 2017. Presidential elections are definitely high-profile, in part because of more focused media coverage, usually leading to higher turnout, evidenced at my polling place by a long line of voters in the early morning hours. When the results of the elections were made known, political conversations continued as the process of selecting a president through electors' votes got greater visibility because of the unusual nature of the results for the 2016 election. People got thinking more and more about the way our government works, and the implications of a system created over 200 years ago.
While they are normally not considered as high-profile as the presidential elections, there was just as much at stake in the local elections at the beginning of April 2017 in Oak Park, with candidates seeking seats on various local boards that direct the course of policy and the quality of life in the community. And then there were the District 97 schools referenda, with much hinging on the choices Oak Park voters made on their ballots. In the campaign season leading up to the election day, there was much conversation in the community about the best course of action to take, and implications of voting yes versus no.
It was so incredible and inspiring to see people come out and fulfill their civic duty by doing something as straightforward as coming to their local polling places and voicing their views through their votes, which I saw as the culmination of all the conversations that took place during the campaign season. And to think that in our system of government, we have this kind of power to influence the quality of life by casting out ballots.
Voting is a way to exercise our citizenship, and I came to think about citizenship itself in a whole new way earlier this year when I obtained a United States passport for the first time in my life. It's amazing to think that little book holds great power in asserting that I am, indeed, a citizen of the United States. And it's fascinating to thumb through those pages and take stock of what this nation is about from viewing the images imprinted on those pages, like the bald eagle, Independence Hall, Mount Rushmore, and pioneers traveling westward. The passport not only asserts my identity but also that of the United States, much as I imagine other countries similarly display their significant aspects in passports they issue.
I used that passport for the first time when I left the United States for the first time in 17 years for a day trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, back in mid-May. After passing through Canadian customs, I entered a totally different country, and the differences I noted between the two countries emphasized what makes the United States so notable, and what I present as a US citizen going abroad. While I mostly blended in during my time in Vancouver, there was at least one instance in particular when I made my citizenship known. When asked to present ID to get an internet use pass at the Vancouver Public Library, I decided to use my passport rather than my driver's license because the passport was in a pocket that made it more readily available. So all of my identity as a US citizen and the images of the United States were on display.
Crossing back into the United States, and in the process of going through US customs, I gained a sense of what it means to be an American by seeing how the US seeks to secure its borders and preserve a sense of security, based on the verbiage on the customs form.
That day trip I took to Vancouver was just one part of the extensive traveling I did throughout the month of May, in addition to other long-distance trips I've taken in the past year. I literally traveled from coast to coast, with my time in Oregon giving me my first opportunity to visit the Pacific Ocean. It is often spoken in song, verse, and prose about how this country stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and I was able to take stock of the vast breadth of the country by visiting places on both oceans and passing through the country in between.
One of the reasons I enjoy train travel so much is that it allows me to go at a different pace and actually soak in the country I'm passing through. With my travels over the course of the past year, I was able to experience places I had been to before but had little memory of. I say this especially about Florida, having no conscious memories of my first visit there. Riding the train through Florida to Okeechobee, where I disembarked and met my friend, was a great chance to gain a sense of the character of Florida: its land, cities, geography, and culture, which I certainly experienced lots more of during the rest of my time in Florida. Visiting St. Augustine was a great opportunity to see the European influences that are part of the US experience from centuries past.
As for the Pacific Northwest, I passed through it on the Amtrak Empire Builder 20 years ago when my family went on a summer vacation, riding the rails in a great loop around the western United States, but I really didn't remember too much. Going there this past May was a great chance to soak in the beauty of the land, with vast forests, lofty mountains, scenic rivers, and lush vegetation (including an abundance of vibrantly-colored flowers), which all made for scenic views. (Check back later for link access in the comments section below where you can read more about my trip to the Pacific Northwest.)
I experienced great mountain scenery in Colorado when I went there last summer, at Rocky Mountain National Park and Cripple Creek, as well as the foothills where Denver is located. The train ride there and back was also a chance to reconnect with that great long train trip 20 years ago.
I also was able to experience more of South Carolina by going to North Charleston and then heading to North Myrtle Beach. Coming back from there, like coming back from Florida, gave me the chance to ride the Cardinal train, which took me through the scenic New River Gorge in West Virginia, a hallmark of that state's natural beauty.
Indeed, going by train is a great way to experience the United States like no other mode of travel can provide. Riding Amtrak stirs in me a sense of love for my country and pride in being a US citizen because it brings me into closer contact with the land and its character. I am reminded once again that God has graced this land with such immense beauty in natural scenery and in the diverse people who call it home.
And my train itinerary on both trips to the Southeast provided me some time to visit sites in Washington, D.C., a magnificent city that speaks immensely to the US identity, with government buildings, grand edifices like the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, monuments, and other places like Frederick Douglass's home, not to mention important documents like the Declaration of Independence, on display at the National Archives. And I brushed up against the ceremonial pomp of government being there just before the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Indeed, there is definitely so much in Washington, DC, that speaks to the character of the United States.
During my travels in May, I made it my business to visit Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. I booked myself on the last tour of the day, and when my group arrived at Fort Sumter, we were there in time for the flag-lowering ceremony. The ranger explained how the flag is lowered and folded up, and then encouraged people in the group to assist. Before starting, he asked us to pause in silence as we remembered the loss of life that took place at Fort Sumter in years bygone.
It was so incredible to be there for that experience, to give honor to the flag for what it represents, a country dedicated to the principles of liberty, and to also honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice of life, regardless of their differences in views, knowing that in the end, we are Americans all. In participating in such gestures there, I realized that being a US citizen is about honoring something higher than ourselves. We honor those who came before us, and the contributions people made to make this country great, knowing we are part of what this nation is about because we shape it as they did.
May this occasion of Independence Day give us further impetus to ponder our country's identity, and our own in relation to it, as we take stock of its land, people, history, and culture. Knowing all this it is about, may we honor our country, and take our part in shaping it for the better and so that it may conform to the highest ideals of freedom and liberty for all, the great gifts of God Almighty, as we give thanks that in Him we are truly free.
God Bless the United States of America.
I salute the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the United States,
Paul
P.S. This is my annual Patriotic Greetings note, now in its fourth year in digital form. If you would like me to send you a hard copy, please feel free to let me know.
Like with any of my blog posts, please feel free to share this Patriotic Greetings note.
And you can check out my Patriotic Greetings notes from other years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
It's that time of year again that takes us back to the principal events at the heart of the foundation of the United States of America.
 |
| I got this picture of Independence Hall during my trip to Philadelphia last summer. |
Following decades of colonial rule, tensions flared between Britain and the 13 British North American colonies in the years after 1763, when conflict between Britain and France concluded. After more than a decade, American and British soldiers clashed at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, sparking the American Revolution, and the drive toward independence gained momentum.
On June 7, 1776, in a session of the Continental Congress meeting in Philadelphia, Virginia delegate Richard Henry Lee offered the following resolution: "Resolved, That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states, that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved."
After taking about three weeks to consider it, the Congress debated the resolution on July 1. On July 2, it passed unanimously, with a "yea" from each voting colony. Congress then turned its attention to the draft of a document that Thomas Jefferson composed, explaining the reasoning for independence. They adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
The American Revolution continued until a decisive American victory at Yorktown, Virginia, led in earnest to peace talks. The war concluded with Britain recognizing US independence with the Treaty of Paris 1783 on September 3.
The story of those events is central to what the United States is about, and who we are as US citizens. And to think of what this country has become in the years since, and how our understanding of what this country is and what it means to be a US citizen has come to encompass so much.
I've had plenty of experiences over the past year that have given me new perspectives on what this country is all about.
Certainly, I gained many insights on what this country is about last summer when visiting Independence Hall and other historical sites in Philadelphia that are at the heart of the founding of the United States.
After seeing where this country and its government got started, it was an incredible experience to see our governmental process in action, serving on the frontlines of this action as an election judge in November 2016 and April 2017. Presidential elections are definitely high-profile, in part because of more focused media coverage, usually leading to higher turnout, evidenced at my polling place by a long line of voters in the early morning hours. When the results of the elections were made known, political conversations continued as the process of selecting a president through electors' votes got greater visibility because of the unusual nature of the results for the 2016 election. People got thinking more and more about the way our government works, and the implications of a system created over 200 years ago.
While they are normally not considered as high-profile as the presidential elections, there was just as much at stake in the local elections at the beginning of April 2017 in Oak Park, with candidates seeking seats on various local boards that direct the course of policy and the quality of life in the community. And then there were the District 97 schools referenda, with much hinging on the choices Oak Park voters made on their ballots. In the campaign season leading up to the election day, there was much conversation in the community about the best course of action to take, and implications of voting yes versus no.
It was so incredible and inspiring to see people come out and fulfill their civic duty by doing something as straightforward as coming to their local polling places and voicing their views through their votes, which I saw as the culmination of all the conversations that took place during the campaign season. And to think that in our system of government, we have this kind of power to influence the quality of life by casting out ballots.
Voting is a way to exercise our citizenship, and I came to think about citizenship itself in a whole new way earlier this year when I obtained a United States passport for the first time in my life. It's amazing to think that little book holds great power in asserting that I am, indeed, a citizen of the United States. And it's fascinating to thumb through those pages and take stock of what this nation is about from viewing the images imprinted on those pages, like the bald eagle, Independence Hall, Mount Rushmore, and pioneers traveling westward. The passport not only asserts my identity but also that of the United States, much as I imagine other countries similarly display their significant aspects in passports they issue.
I used that passport for the first time when I left the United States for the first time in 17 years for a day trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, back in mid-May. After passing through Canadian customs, I entered a totally different country, and the differences I noted between the two countries emphasized what makes the United States so notable, and what I present as a US citizen going abroad. While I mostly blended in during my time in Vancouver, there was at least one instance in particular when I made my citizenship known. When asked to present ID to get an internet use pass at the Vancouver Public Library, I decided to use my passport rather than my driver's license because the passport was in a pocket that made it more readily available. So all of my identity as a US citizen and the images of the United States were on display.
Crossing back into the United States, and in the process of going through US customs, I gained a sense of what it means to be an American by seeing how the US seeks to secure its borders and preserve a sense of security, based on the verbiage on the customs form.
That day trip I took to Vancouver was just one part of the extensive traveling I did throughout the month of May, in addition to other long-distance trips I've taken in the past year. I literally traveled from coast to coast, with my time in Oregon giving me my first opportunity to visit the Pacific Ocean. It is often spoken in song, verse, and prose about how this country stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and I was able to take stock of the vast breadth of the country by visiting places on both oceans and passing through the country in between.
 |
| My friend Roy got this picture of me at the top of Salal Hill at the Yaquina Head Oustanding Natural Area on the Pacific coast near Newport, OR |
One of the reasons I enjoy train travel so much is that it allows me to go at a different pace and actually soak in the country I'm passing through. With my travels over the course of the past year, I was able to experience places I had been to before but had little memory of. I say this especially about Florida, having no conscious memories of my first visit there. Riding the train through Florida to Okeechobee, where I disembarked and met my friend, was a great chance to gain a sense of the character of Florida: its land, cities, geography, and culture, which I certainly experienced lots more of during the rest of my time in Florida. Visiting St. Augustine was a great opportunity to see the European influences that are part of the US experience from centuries past.
As for the Pacific Northwest, I passed through it on the Amtrak Empire Builder 20 years ago when my family went on a summer vacation, riding the rails in a great loop around the western United States, but I really didn't remember too much. Going there this past May was a great chance to soak in the beauty of the land, with vast forests, lofty mountains, scenic rivers, and lush vegetation (including an abundance of vibrantly-colored flowers), which all made for scenic views. (Check back later for link access in the comments section below where you can read more about my trip to the Pacific Northwest.)
I experienced great mountain scenery in Colorado when I went there last summer, at Rocky Mountain National Park and Cripple Creek, as well as the foothills where Denver is located. The train ride there and back was also a chance to reconnect with that great long train trip 20 years ago.
I also was able to experience more of South Carolina by going to North Charleston and then heading to North Myrtle Beach. Coming back from there, like coming back from Florida, gave me the chance to ride the Cardinal train, which took me through the scenic New River Gorge in West Virginia, a hallmark of that state's natural beauty.
Indeed, going by train is a great way to experience the United States like no other mode of travel can provide. Riding Amtrak stirs in me a sense of love for my country and pride in being a US citizen because it brings me into closer contact with the land and its character. I am reminded once again that God has graced this land with such immense beauty in natural scenery and in the diverse people who call it home.
 |
| I got this picture onboard Amtrak train 51, the westbound Cardinal, preparing to depart Indianapolis. Indiana marked 200 years as a state on December 11, 2016. |
 |
| I got this picture of the Chicago skyline from Amtrak train 6, the eastbound California Zephyr, right before we arrived at Chicago Union Station, marking the end of my Colorado trip last summer. |
 |
| I got this picture of Amtrak train 6 backing into Denver Union Station, before boarding to head back to Chicago, on my Colorado trip last summer. |
 |
| A fellow passenger got this picture of me during an extended stop at Whitefish, MT, during my ride of Amtrak train 7, the westbound Empire Builder, reminiscent of a similar journey I took 20 years ago. |
And my train itinerary on both trips to the Southeast provided me some time to visit sites in Washington, D.C., a magnificent city that speaks immensely to the US identity, with government buildings, grand edifices like the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, monuments, and other places like Frederick Douglass's home, not to mention important documents like the Declaration of Independence, on display at the National Archives. And I brushed up against the ceremonial pomp of government being there just before the 2017 Presidential Inauguration. Indeed, there is definitely so much in Washington, DC, that speaks to the character of the United States.
During my travels in May, I made it my business to visit Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. I booked myself on the last tour of the day, and when my group arrived at Fort Sumter, we were there in time for the flag-lowering ceremony. The ranger explained how the flag is lowered and folded up, and then encouraged people in the group to assist. Before starting, he asked us to pause in silence as we remembered the loss of life that took place at Fort Sumter in years bygone.
 |
| The US flag is being lowered at Fort Sumter. |
 |
| The flag is being folded into a triangle, which is in honor of the Patriots who fought for the United States in the American Revolution, who wore hats in the shape of a triangle. |
It was so incredible to be there for that experience, to give honor to the flag for what it represents, a country dedicated to the principles of liberty, and to also honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice of life, regardless of their differences in views, knowing that in the end, we are Americans all. In participating in such gestures there, I realized that being a US citizen is about honoring something higher than ourselves. We honor those who came before us, and the contributions people made to make this country great, knowing we are part of what this nation is about because we shape it as they did.
May this occasion of Independence Day give us further impetus to ponder our country's identity, and our own in relation to it, as we take stock of its land, people, history, and culture. Knowing all this it is about, may we honor our country, and take our part in shaping it for the better and so that it may conform to the highest ideals of freedom and liberty for all, the great gifts of God Almighty, as we give thanks that in Him we are truly free.
God Bless the United States of America.
I salute the Spirit of God and the Spirit of the United States,
Paul
P.S. This is my annual Patriotic Greetings note, now in its fourth year in digital form. If you would like me to send you a hard copy, please feel free to let me know.
Like with any of my blog posts, please feel free to share this Patriotic Greetings note.
And you can check out my Patriotic Greetings notes from other years: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Saturday, July 1, 2017
O Canada: A Tribute to the True North Proud and Free
My thoughts are turning northward today: It is 150 years since the British North America Act took effect on July 1, 1867, by which Canada became a self-governing dominion of Britain. It is recognized as Canada Day, the national holiday of the United States's northern neighbor.
I've had a fascination with Canada throughout my life. The first time I went there with my family was when I was very young and thus I have no memories of taking a short day trip across the border to Sault Saint Marie in Ontario while we were on vacation in northern Michigan in the summer of 1994 (please see picture below).
My first memories of Canada go back to the summer of 1999 on a family vacation to Niagara Falls. We drove from Oak Park to Detroit, where we crossed the border entering at Windsor, Ontario. Then we drove to London, where we spent the night, before resuming our drive the next day, with some sightseeing stops, until we reached our destination at Niagara Falls, Ontario, staying at a Hampton Inn across the Niagara River from the United States.
Over the course of a few days, we bounced back and forth across the border seeing various sites in that area.
At one point, we drove to a town called Niagara-on-the-Lake on the shore Lake Ontario for a visit. On our way back, we stopped for a short stay in Port Clinton, OH, and we went to see Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. (I also have a memory of eating at a Mexican restaurant, which was interesting to do two borders north, which may have also been on that trip on our way to Niagara Falls. At the restaurant, I was intrigued as Dad explained to me that the credit card company would charge his card for US dollars for our dinner, even though it was Canadian prices at the restaurant.)
The following summer, we went on a family vacation to Maine. We made our way up US Federal Route 1, staying in both Old Orchard Beach and Bar Harbor for an extended amount of time before coming to stay at a small town called Lubec, where the Atlantic Coast of Maine meets the border with Canada. We crossed over to spend some time in New Brunswick, which included a visit to Roosevelt Campobello International Park, the Roosevelts' summer cottage, where FDR contracted polio.
In the years after that visit to New Brunswick, my fascination with Canada grew. I regarded Canada like a neighbor who lived down the street who I saw occasionally, and who I heard lots of interesting stories about, which made me eager to know more. My yearnings intensified in 2010 when the Winter Olympic Games were held in Vancouver, British Columbia. I was impressed by the display of Canada's history, geography, and culture during the Opening Ceremony. And I was totally floored by Nikki Yanofsky's performance of the bilingual version of "O Canada", the national anthem.
That performance inspired me to actually memorize the English version of the lyrics. Having done so makes me honestly feel that the Canadian national anthem is a better national anthem than that of the United States, as the lyrics of "O Canada" espouse a strong sense of patriotic pride for the Canadians, speaking to what Canada is, rather than being so fixated on a battle scene--although it would help if the 4th verse of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was performed more often--but that's just a digression. The French lyrics of "O Canada" are equally rich as well, evoking a sense of the onus and glory of nationhood. (This webpage has an English translation of the French lyrics.)
Then 2017 arrived, and I felt that it was a good time to go visit Canada once again, especially its being the year of the 150th anniversary. As I started planning a trip to visit my friend Roy in Oregon, I decided to tie in a visit to Vancouver, since it was in the same general region.
And so, on May 18, I took a day trip from Seattle up to Vancouver to spend a few hours there, my first trip to Canada in 17 years, and my first trip to western Canada. I guess I can now say I've visited three major regions of Canada: the Maritime Provinces, Ontario/central Canada, and Western Canada. (By the way, I'm still working to complete on my blog an account of my recent Pacific Northwest trip back in May, so please stay tuned when it goes up, at which point it can be accessed via a link in the comments section below this post, and you can read more about all of it.) It was quite a different world on this most recent visit, as I had to bring special documentation with me, i.e., my passport. On my previous visits, when my family pulled up to the customs gate in our vehicle, my Dad handed over our birth certificates, and that was enough to get us across the border. Anticipating my trip to Canada this year, I had decided to get my passport back in February, so I could specifically be ready to visit Canada, though at that time, I wasn't entirely sure how it would happen, while also feeling it was a good time in my life to get my first ever passport.
The landscape of British Columbia was generally similar to Washington, with lots of green, as well as wide open agricultural fields, like in the picture below I took from onboard the BoltBus, a little bit past the US-Canada border crossing.
And Vancouver had a similar feel to Seattle, both being Pacific Northwest cities, with the commercial activity, the general hustle and bustle of people, and the skyscrapers.
It was easy to get around Vancouver on foot and by public transit, both light rail and buses. There was also a strong Asian presence in Vancouver, which a friend told me is in part due to when Britain gave Hong Kong back to China and many fled Hong Kong to Vancouver. The one spectacular aspect of Vancouver is looking out across Vancouver Harbour and seeing the gorgeous mountains on the other side, like in the picture below.
While there, I also got to experience consuming something from Tim Horton's for the first time, which I found out is like the Canadian version of Dunkin' Donuts, and that makes sense given the similar menu offerings.
On my way to and from the Pacific Northwest, I rode the Amtrak Empire Builder route. It follows the path of the former Great Northern Railway, often referred to as the Hi-Line, because it travels so far north in the United States, with the route through Montana coming within about 30-40 miles of the US-Canada border at certain points. In fact, in Havre, there was a monument in the Hands Across the Border Park right by the Amtrak station.
Seeing the two figures and the two national flags evoked a true sense of friendship in the relationship between the United States and Canada. It's like what President Kennedy talked about when he addressed the Canadian Parliament, evoking a similar history in European settlement, and how both countries, as friends, could work together for common goals of promoting freedom in the world.
Many people claim that Canada is not that different from the United States, which makes sense in accordance with a statistic I encountered that said the vast majority of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the United States-Canada border. That demonstrates that anyone who lives in the vast expanse of Canada far up north, like in the three territories, is truly a hardy soul.
And I'm aware of what makes Canada so distinct. It is more steeped in a sense of being connected with Britain as a Commonwealth state with the British monarch as the Head of State, represented by the Governor-General, and references to royalty abound everywhere, like in place names and on Canadian money. (As an aside, I was very intrigued to learn that Canadian bills are made of plastic, which explains a strange transparent kind of feature on the bills.) Canada also has a Parliamentary form of government, which is very much like Britain and other European countries where the head of government is determined by which political party has the most legislative seats. I feel this sense of British culture in Canada gives the country a sense of class.
And then there's the whole French factor in Canada. I strongly sensed I was in Canada on a couple of occasions during my visit to Vancouver when I heard groups of people speak among themselves in French--that made it seem more real than simply looking at the French side of the customs form.
I wasn't totally surprised to see measurements in metric, as I crunched numbers in my head whenever I saw a speed limit sign on the side of the road to determine, just for fun, what the American measurement was. But when measurements mattered more to me, I felt a little jolt in my brain as I adjusted numbers in my head, like when I got to Stanley Park and looked at a map of the park marking out the distances, and had to convert the kilometers to miles so I could determine how long it would take me to get to where I wanted to go.
In general, I can figure out measurements with some intuition, especially in the case when I looked at information online about the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, which covers 1.5 million square kilometers in the northern territories of Canada. Suffice it to say, that's a huge area. In fact, Canada is a huge country, the largest in North America and the 2nd largest in the world, covering a wide swath of North America, with those three northern territories being vast in and of themselves, with extensive stretches of wilderness.
I couldn't help but think about that when I was in Vancouver experiencing the Flyover Canada ride, which displayed images of the amazing places in Canada, many of them nature areas. The ride's visual effects enhanced the views of them in a stunning way.
Indeed, Canada is an incredible country, and I look forward to going back for future visits to soak in more of it. It is a fine neighbor with whom we share much, but with so many idiosyncrasies that make me admire Canada.
And so here's a salute to Canada on this special day in this prominent year.
I've had a fascination with Canada throughout my life. The first time I went there with my family was when I was very young and thus I have no memories of taking a short day trip across the border to Sault Saint Marie in Ontario while we were on vacation in northern Michigan in the summer of 1994 (please see picture below).
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| You can see me in the center of this picture, wearing a red sweater, on my first time in Canada, in Sault Saint Marie, ON, which was also my first time outside the United States. |
My first memories of Canada go back to the summer of 1999 on a family vacation to Niagara Falls. We drove from Oak Park to Detroit, where we crossed the border entering at Windsor, Ontario. Then we drove to London, where we spent the night, before resuming our drive the next day, with some sightseeing stops, until we reached our destination at Niagara Falls, Ontario, staying at a Hampton Inn across the Niagara River from the United States.
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| I guess I could say I am offering a salute to Canada, with the Canadian flag in hand. As best as I can surmise, this picture was taken at a scenic overlook near Hamilton, ON, with the sign behind me telling about Thomas Baker McQueesten. |
Over the course of a few days, we bounced back and forth across the border seeing various sites in that area.
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| Here I am, to the right, at the Great Gorge Adventure along the Niagara River in Niagara Falls, ON. To the left, across the Niagara River, is Niagara Falls, NY, USA. |
At one point, we drove to a town called Niagara-on-the-Lake on the shore Lake Ontario for a visit. On our way back, we stopped for a short stay in Port Clinton, OH, and we went to see Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial. (I also have a memory of eating at a Mexican restaurant, which was interesting to do two borders north, which may have also been on that trip on our way to Niagara Falls. At the restaurant, I was intrigued as Dad explained to me that the credit card company would charge his card for US dollars for our dinner, even though it was Canadian prices at the restaurant.)
The following summer, we went on a family vacation to Maine. We made our way up US Federal Route 1, staying in both Old Orchard Beach and Bar Harbor for an extended amount of time before coming to stay at a small town called Lubec, where the Atlantic Coast of Maine meets the border with Canada. We crossed over to spend some time in New Brunswick, which included a visit to Roosevelt Campobello International Park, the Roosevelts' summer cottage, where FDR contracted polio.
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| A fellow tourist got this picture of our foursome on the uncovered ocean floor at Campobello Island, New Brunswick, during low tide. I am to the left. |
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| Here I am, to the right, with my brother Eric, to the left, on the Deer Island Ferry. All the above photos were from family photo albums and were most likely taken by Mom or Dad unless otherwise noted. |
In the years after that visit to New Brunswick, my fascination with Canada grew. I regarded Canada like a neighbor who lived down the street who I saw occasionally, and who I heard lots of interesting stories about, which made me eager to know more. My yearnings intensified in 2010 when the Winter Olympic Games were held in Vancouver, British Columbia. I was impressed by the display of Canada's history, geography, and culture during the Opening Ceremony. And I was totally floored by Nikki Yanofsky's performance of the bilingual version of "O Canada", the national anthem.
That performance inspired me to actually memorize the English version of the lyrics. Having done so makes me honestly feel that the Canadian national anthem is a better national anthem than that of the United States, as the lyrics of "O Canada" espouse a strong sense of patriotic pride for the Canadians, speaking to what Canada is, rather than being so fixated on a battle scene--although it would help if the 4th verse of "The Star-Spangled Banner" was performed more often--but that's just a digression. The French lyrics of "O Canada" are equally rich as well, evoking a sense of the onus and glory of nationhood. (This webpage has an English translation of the French lyrics.)
Then 2017 arrived, and I felt that it was a good time to go visit Canada once again, especially its being the year of the 150th anniversary. As I started planning a trip to visit my friend Roy in Oregon, I decided to tie in a visit to Vancouver, since it was in the same general region.
And so, on May 18, I took a day trip from Seattle up to Vancouver to spend a few hours there, my first trip to Canada in 17 years, and my first trip to western Canada. I guess I can now say I've visited three major regions of Canada: the Maritime Provinces, Ontario/central Canada, and Western Canada. (By the way, I'm still working to complete on my blog an account of my recent Pacific Northwest trip back in May, so please stay tuned when it goes up, at which point it can be accessed via a link in the comments section below this post, and you can read more about all of it.) It was quite a different world on this most recent visit, as I had to bring special documentation with me, i.e., my passport. On my previous visits, when my family pulled up to the customs gate in our vehicle, my Dad handed over our birth certificates, and that was enough to get us across the border. Anticipating my trip to Canada this year, I had decided to get my passport back in February, so I could specifically be ready to visit Canada, though at that time, I wasn't entirely sure how it would happen, while also feeling it was a good time in my life to get my first ever passport.
The landscape of British Columbia was generally similar to Washington, with lots of green, as well as wide open agricultural fields, like in the picture below I took from onboard the BoltBus, a little bit past the US-Canada border crossing.
And Vancouver had a similar feel to Seattle, both being Pacific Northwest cities, with the commercial activity, the general hustle and bustle of people, and the skyscrapers.
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| I got this picture of Cathedral Square, across Dunsmuir Street from the Cathedral of the Holy Rosary. |
It was easy to get around Vancouver on foot and by public transit, both light rail and buses. There was also a strong Asian presence in Vancouver, which a friend told me is in part due to when Britain gave Hong Kong back to China and many fled Hong Kong to Vancouver. The one spectacular aspect of Vancouver is looking out across Vancouver Harbour and seeing the gorgeous mountains on the other side, like in the picture below.
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| I posed for this picture, taken by a fellow visitor, at the top of the hill where Bloedel Conservatory is in Queen Elizabeth Park. Looking behind me in the picture, toward the north, you can see Vancouver, and then the mountains beyond. |
While there, I also got to experience consuming something from Tim Horton's for the first time, which I found out is like the Canadian version of Dunkin' Donuts, and that makes sense given the similar menu offerings.
On my way to and from the Pacific Northwest, I rode the Amtrak Empire Builder route. It follows the path of the former Great Northern Railway, often referred to as the Hi-Line, because it travels so far north in the United States, with the route through Montana coming within about 30-40 miles of the US-Canada border at certain points. In fact, in Havre, there was a monument in the Hands Across the Border Park right by the Amtrak station.
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| The figure on the left represents the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the iconically-dressed law enforcement officials known as the "Mounties", who patrol rural areas. The figure on the right represents the United States Border Patrol. The sign on the far left says "Canada Hands Across the Border Park". Below are flags at that park--from left to right are Canada, Montana, and United States. Their poles can be seen in the picture above. I took the pictures above and below. |
Seeing the two figures and the two national flags evoked a true sense of friendship in the relationship between the United States and Canada. It's like what President Kennedy talked about when he addressed the Canadian Parliament, evoking a similar history in European settlement, and how both countries, as friends, could work together for common goals of promoting freedom in the world.
Many people claim that Canada is not that different from the United States, which makes sense in accordance with a statistic I encountered that said the vast majority of Canada's population lives within 100 miles of the United States-Canada border. That demonstrates that anyone who lives in the vast expanse of Canada far up north, like in the three territories, is truly a hardy soul.
And I'm aware of what makes Canada so distinct. It is more steeped in a sense of being connected with Britain as a Commonwealth state with the British monarch as the Head of State, represented by the Governor-General, and references to royalty abound everywhere, like in place names and on Canadian money. (As an aside, I was very intrigued to learn that Canadian bills are made of plastic, which explains a strange transparent kind of feature on the bills.) Canada also has a Parliamentary form of government, which is very much like Britain and other European countries where the head of government is determined by which political party has the most legislative seats. I feel this sense of British culture in Canada gives the country a sense of class.
And then there's the whole French factor in Canada. I strongly sensed I was in Canada on a couple of occasions during my visit to Vancouver when I heard groups of people speak among themselves in French--that made it seem more real than simply looking at the French side of the customs form.
I wasn't totally surprised to see measurements in metric, as I crunched numbers in my head whenever I saw a speed limit sign on the side of the road to determine, just for fun, what the American measurement was. But when measurements mattered more to me, I felt a little jolt in my brain as I adjusted numbers in my head, like when I got to Stanley Park and looked at a map of the park marking out the distances, and had to convert the kilometers to miles so I could determine how long it would take me to get to where I wanted to go.
In general, I can figure out measurements with some intuition, especially in the case when I looked at information online about the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mackenzie-Fort Smith, which covers 1.5 million square kilometers in the northern territories of Canada. Suffice it to say, that's a huge area. In fact, Canada is a huge country, the largest in North America and the 2nd largest in the world, covering a wide swath of North America, with those three northern territories being vast in and of themselves, with extensive stretches of wilderness.
I couldn't help but think about that when I was in Vancouver experiencing the Flyover Canada ride, which displayed images of the amazing places in Canada, many of them nature areas. The ride's visual effects enhanced the views of them in a stunning way.
Indeed, Canada is an incredible country, and I look forward to going back for future visits to soak in more of it. It is a fine neighbor with whom we share much, but with so many idiosyncrasies that make me admire Canada.
And so here's a salute to Canada on this special day in this prominent year.
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| This was at Canada Place, housing the convention center in Vancouver, where I asked a person walking around to get this picture of me by the Canada 150 banners. |
Thursday, June 29, 2017
Celebrating Locally
This past weekend, the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest had an open house of its new museum space, all decked out with displays, as regular museum hours are starting.
The museum is in a building (please see picture above) that was originally a firehouse from the days when Oak Park was in the Cicero Township, and in subsequent years served a variety of purposes. After it no longer functioned as office space for the Public Works Department of the Village of Oak Park, it sat largely unused. The OPRF Historical Society made an agreement with the Village to use the space as a new location for an OPRF History Museum, which involved extensive renovations. I attended various open house events throughout the renovation period and was able to see the progress being made in getting the building to the splendid condition it is now in to serve as the history museum. I went to check it out this past weekend during the open house: I liked what I saw inside, with many historical items on display representing various aspects of village history (please see picture below).
Thinking about history, earlier this month, there were a number of notable anniversary occasions for prominent parts of history related to the local area.
June 8 was the 150-year anniversary of the birth of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Born in Richland Center, WI, his home and studio is in Oak Park (please see picture below).
There are many homes nearby of his design in the Prairie style that represented something substantially noteworthy on the architectural scene of the time, and I sense how it reflects the wide open spaces of vast prairies. Given how prominent he is in the architectural world, it's incredible to think that Oak Park can claim an important piece of him, which is a big tourist draw.
In fact, my brother used to give tours there as part of a program for youths. At the conclusion of a training process that lasted several weeks, there was a ceremony at which he was officially certified as a tour guide. As part of that ceremony, he gave my parents and me a privately led tour, much like he would do for tour groups thenceforth. Looking back on that, I realize the experience was one of a lifetime.
June 7 marked 100 years since the birth of Gwendolyn Brooks, a distinguished African-American literary figure. She was well-versed in writing poetry speaking to real-life experiences. She was even at one point in time the Poet Laureate of Illinois, which makes it fitting that her name is on the Illinois State Library building in Springfield. (She was even designated United States Poet Laureate through a position at the Library of Congress for a one-year term.) Somehow, her mother ended up in Topeka, KS, where she gave birth on June 7, 1917, but Gwendolyn was soon back in Chicago, which became her lifelong home.
We're privileged in Oak Park to carry on her legacy through Brooks Middle School (please see picture below), which has a stellar performing arts program that gives students the amazing opportunity to channel their creative energies and put on some stunning musicals.
And The Wednesday Journal reports that an artistic mural is being created on the walls on a corner of Brooks Middle School.
June 6 marked the 125th anniversary of the Chicago Transit Authority. I practically overlooked this anniversary, but it's one that I nonetheless mark with great enthusiasm.
As a big train fan, I'm very pleased to have this CTA system available in Chicago. It's a good network that spreads out well over Chicago and into some nearby suburbs. It's delightful to have colors for the various lines, which apparently has only been around for 25 of those 125 years, as it debuted right around the time the newest constructed line opened, the Orange Line, providing service from Midway Airport to the Loop.
There have been some new stations in recent years, with notable designs, like the Cermak-McCormick Place station on the Green Line, in the picture below, with a fine view of the Chicago skyline.
There are many such corridors on the system that have a vantage point looking all the way to downtown, making for splendid views of the Chicago skyline, like the view in the picture below I took from the last car of a Blue Line train near Halsted Street along the I-290 corridor.
I've ridden most of the routes--the Yellow is the only one I haven't--and ridden most of the parts of the system, or seen parts of the system from nearby road ways, like the end of the Red Line at 95th Street, and the end of the Cottage Grove Branch of the Green Line.
One enjoyable thing I did a couple summers ago was riding the Purple Line all the way to Linden in Wilmette just to say I did it and see what was there.
I can access interesting areas of Chicago, such as ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatown on the Red Line, and Pilsen on the Pink Line at 18th Street. The Green Line provides access to central Oak Park, and I've used it on occasion.
But my line has long been the Blue Line, and my station the Oak Park Avenue stop, providing me access to the Loop Downtown to get to places there, or to transfer to other lines to go elsewhere in Chicago (or nearby suburbs). I've also used it to reach the Northwest Side of Chicago, where my grandma has lived all the time I've been alive.
While the system is showing its age and could use some extra funds to get it in better shape, it's also doing pretty well in getting people around Chicago and beyond. So I am definitely delighting in this anniversary occasion.
And I salute all these notable aspects of the local area that celebrated milestone anniversaries this month, as we continue to engage with the history of our area.
The museum is in a building (please see picture above) that was originally a firehouse from the days when Oak Park was in the Cicero Township, and in subsequent years served a variety of purposes. After it no longer functioned as office space for the Public Works Department of the Village of Oak Park, it sat largely unused. The OPRF Historical Society made an agreement with the Village to use the space as a new location for an OPRF History Museum, which involved extensive renovations. I attended various open house events throughout the renovation period and was able to see the progress being made in getting the building to the splendid condition it is now in to serve as the history museum. I went to check it out this past weekend during the open house: I liked what I saw inside, with many historical items on display representing various aspects of village history (please see picture below).
Thinking about history, earlier this month, there were a number of notable anniversary occasions for prominent parts of history related to the local area.
June 8 was the 150-year anniversary of the birth of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Born in Richland Center, WI, his home and studio is in Oak Park (please see picture below).
There are many homes nearby of his design in the Prairie style that represented something substantially noteworthy on the architectural scene of the time, and I sense how it reflects the wide open spaces of vast prairies. Given how prominent he is in the architectural world, it's incredible to think that Oak Park can claim an important piece of him, which is a big tourist draw.
In fact, my brother used to give tours there as part of a program for youths. At the conclusion of a training process that lasted several weeks, there was a ceremony at which he was officially certified as a tour guide. As part of that ceremony, he gave my parents and me a privately led tour, much like he would do for tour groups thenceforth. Looking back on that, I realize the experience was one of a lifetime.
June 7 marked 100 years since the birth of Gwendolyn Brooks, a distinguished African-American literary figure. She was well-versed in writing poetry speaking to real-life experiences. She was even at one point in time the Poet Laureate of Illinois, which makes it fitting that her name is on the Illinois State Library building in Springfield. (She was even designated United States Poet Laureate through a position at the Library of Congress for a one-year term.) Somehow, her mother ended up in Topeka, KS, where she gave birth on June 7, 1917, but Gwendolyn was soon back in Chicago, which became her lifelong home.
We're privileged in Oak Park to carry on her legacy through Brooks Middle School (please see picture below), which has a stellar performing arts program that gives students the amazing opportunity to channel their creative energies and put on some stunning musicals.
And The Wednesday Journal reports that an artistic mural is being created on the walls on a corner of Brooks Middle School.
June 6 marked the 125th anniversary of the Chicago Transit Authority. I practically overlooked this anniversary, but it's one that I nonetheless mark with great enthusiasm.
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| My friend Richard and I were visiting together in Chicago one day in summer 2012. While at the Chicago History Museum, we posed for this photo--taken by a fellow visitor--inside an 1892 "L" train car. |
As a big train fan, I'm very pleased to have this CTA system available in Chicago. It's a good network that spreads out well over Chicago and into some nearby suburbs. It's delightful to have colors for the various lines, which apparently has only been around for 25 of those 125 years, as it debuted right around the time the newest constructed line opened, the Orange Line, providing service from Midway Airport to the Loop.
There have been some new stations in recent years, with notable designs, like the Cermak-McCormick Place station on the Green Line, in the picture below, with a fine view of the Chicago skyline.
There are many such corridors on the system that have a vantage point looking all the way to downtown, making for splendid views of the Chicago skyline, like the view in the picture below I took from the last car of a Blue Line train near Halsted Street along the I-290 corridor.
One enjoyable thing I did a couple summers ago was riding the Purple Line all the way to Linden in Wilmette just to say I did it and see what was there.
I can access interesting areas of Chicago, such as ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatown on the Red Line, and Pilsen on the Pink Line at 18th Street. The Green Line provides access to central Oak Park, and I've used it on occasion.
But my line has long been the Blue Line, and my station the Oak Park Avenue stop, providing me access to the Loop Downtown to get to places there, or to transfer to other lines to go elsewhere in Chicago (or nearby suburbs). I've also used it to reach the Northwest Side of Chicago, where my grandma has lived all the time I've been alive.
While the system is showing its age and could use some extra funds to get it in better shape, it's also doing pretty well in getting people around Chicago and beyond. So I am definitely delighting in this anniversary occasion.
And I salute all these notable aspects of the local area that celebrated milestone anniversaries this month, as we continue to engage with the history of our area.
Saturday, June 24, 2017
The Grand Old Time
It was in grand style that I headed off to celebrate a grand
occasion at a place known as the Grand Strand.
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| So far as I remember, my cousin Laura took this picture of me by the Atlantic Ocean at North Myrtle Beach |
To celebrate my Abuela’s 80 years, my family planned a
vacation for a few days in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with many of our Colorado-based family members joining us.
For me, the trip felt rather déjà vu, for we were gathering
for a family occasion along the Atlantic Ocean in the Southeast United States,
much like back in January when I went with my parents and Abuela to stay in Daytona Beach, FL, along
the Atlantic coast for a celebration of the marriage of my brother and
sister-in-law. This
South Carolina trip also took me back to the gathering I had last summer with
the Aragon/Colorado family members at Cripple Creek, as we celebrated my Aunt
Carmen’s birthday. Now it was time to
celebrate my Abuela Velia, the other sister.
I started my trip off on a delightful note on the evening of
Saturday, May 6, 2017, when I boarded Amtrak’s Capitol Limited train at Chicago
Union Station. This was my 8th
ride on this route, reinforcing the record of this Amtrak route's being the one I’ve
ridden the most number of times.
After a night ride through the Great Lakes region and a
morning through the Appalachian highlands, I arrived in the illustrious capitol
city of Washington, D.C. (WDC). After
parcel-checking my luggage and grabbing a quick Philly-style lunch, I went to
the National Archives to view once again the Charters of Freedom and the 1297 copy of the
Magna Carta.
Then, I traveled on the Metro Green Line to the Anacostia neighborhood
on the Southeast Side of WDC to tour the home of Frederick Douglass at Cedar Hill,
which is now a National Historic Site in this traditionally African-American
neighborhood (please see the picture of his house below).
The ranger leading the
tour did a wonderful job showing us what was in the various rooms, pointing out some of Mr. Douglass's personal effects, and
embellishing the commentary with biographical anecdotes from Mr. Douglass’s life.
I enjoyed getting to know Mr. Douglass a little more through touring his home, and also getting away from the National Mall area to visit a WDC neighborhood that I hadn’t gone to before. The hill on which the house sits had great views, too.
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| This is Mr. Douglass's study. Towards the right in the picture, you can see some of the many, many books he owned. |
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| Looking down from the top of Cedar Hill, with views of the Anacostia neighborhood, and further away, central Washington, D.C. |
I enjoyed getting to know Mr. Douglass a little more through touring his home, and also getting away from the National Mall area to visit a WDC neighborhood that I hadn’t gone to before. The hill on which the house sits had great views, too.
Following my visit there, I headed up to the Basilica of the National Shrine of
the Immaculate Conception to spend time in prayer.
It was then back to Union Station to get dinner and my luggage and board the Silver Meteor train #97, my fourth time on this route. I enjoyed company with a fellow passenger in the café car, who, like me, was there with his computer using the train's Wifi as we headed into Virginia.
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| Above: Zuchettos of various Popes on display at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Below: First-class relics of Pope St. John Paul II, also on display at the National Shrine. |
It was then back to Union Station to get dinner and my luggage and board the Silver Meteor train #97, my fourth time on this route. I enjoyed company with a fellow passenger in the café car, who, like me, was there with his computer using the train's Wifi as we headed into Virginia.
I was able to sleep a little longer the next morning because late at night, somewhere between Rocky Mount and Fayetteville, NC, freight train that
broke down ahead of us, delaying the train for about three hours. So I arrived in North Charleston, SC, after the sun was up and
shining brightly around 7:15, about 2 1/2 hours late.
I went to Daily Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish in
Goose Creek, before getting Chik-fil-A breakfast, and then headed to the
Charleston International Airport to meet up with my brother. I encountered a display honoring the victims
of the tragic shooting in June 2015 at the Mother Emanuel AME Church, which was moving in its simplicity (please see pictures below).
As soon as he got his rental car, we headed northeast toward North Myrtle Beach. We stopped in a nice town called Georgetown for lunch at a sandwich place.
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| To the left is the Bible Pastor Pinckney was using at the Bible study on that tragic June evening in 2015. To the right, the Bible is open to the Parable of the Sower, the text being discussed at that Bible Study. |
As soon as he got his rental car, we headed northeast toward North Myrtle Beach. We stopped in a nice town called Georgetown for lunch at a sandwich place.
Between 2 and 3 o'clock, we arrived at the resort hotel where we were staying (please see picture below). Driving in gave me a sense of how spread out the Myrtle Beach area is, as it took us nearly an hour from the time we reached the southernmost part to when we arrived at our resort hotel, which was on the north side--very close to North Carolina, in fact.
I settled in, and then headed to the pool area, where some of my kinsfolk were already enjoying themselves. I even went in the lazy river, per Mom's suggestion.
It was a pattern of the days to come, in which we spent so much wonderful time together in recreation and enjoying each other's company as we celebrated Abuela and her milestone.
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| View of the resort from the beach at sunrise time at a later date |
I settled in, and then headed to the pool area, where some of my kinsfolk were already enjoying themselves. I even went in the lazy river, per Mom's suggestion.
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| Dad got this picture of me in this lazy river at the hotel at a later date. |
It was a pattern of the days to come, in which we spent so much wonderful time together in recreation and enjoying each other's company as we celebrated Abuela and her milestone.
For dinner, we walked over to Flynn's Irish Tavern. My cousin John and I both ordered the Monday dinner special: all-you-can-eat beef with green beans and mashed potatoes--John took the picture of me below, enjoying the food.
A large part of our group gathered after dinner to view a video of pictures that were digitized from Abuela's large collection.
A large part of our group gathered after dinner to view a video of pictures that were digitized from Abuela's large collection.
Tuesday was designated as Abuela's special day, on which we celebrated her birthday. She opted to visit the Brookgreen Gardens, in the southern part of the Grand Strand, near Murrells Inlet. So we headed south there, and enjoyed a nice time walking around the gardens and landscaped areas of what was once a plantation, all donning our specials shirts made for the occasion of this trip and celebrating Abuela.
For dinner, we celebrated at Villa Tuscanna, an Italian place.
Back at the resort, we played a Bunco tournament (please see the two pictures below).
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| the Palmetto Garden at Brookgreen Gardens |
| Our family group, from left to right: Front row: Charlotte, Jenny, Aunt Carmen, Abuela, Laura, Mom, Cynthia Back row: Doug, Mark II, my brother Eric, me, Dad, John, Mark I All are my cousins unless other specified. Thanks to the visitor we stopped who took our picture, and for Cynthia for providing it. |
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| Abuela took this picture of me by a frog statue near the Visitors' Center as part of the Ribbit the Exhibit there |
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| Abuela enjoying her birthday cake |
Wednesday was the beach day, and it was a lot of fun spending time out on the sand and in the sun, and in my case, out in the Atlantic Ocean, way out from shore, where the water was up to my stomach, with waves lapping up to my chest.
While I learned long ago that the ocean is salt water, it was really something to actually taste that salt in my mouth when the waves lapped up on me. There was one particularly large wave that went over my head and knocked my sunglasses right off my face, and I was unable to find them in the water. So a little later, I embarked on a trek to find a store that had sunglasses. After confusing the location of a dollar store, I ended up at this great beachwear store that had sunglasses and some swell beach shirts that I have constantly been on the look out for. We had our final dinner out at Filet's Waterfront, and then returned to the resort to put together a puzzle that my cousin Cynthia had made through Shutterfly.
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| Dad got this picture of me out in the Atlantic Ocean, on a different date |
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| Abuela took this picture of four us sitting out in the water. We appear close to the middle of the picture. From left to right: Laura, Cynthia, me, Jenny |
While I learned long ago that the ocean is salt water, it was really something to actually taste that salt in my mouth when the waves lapped up on me. There was one particularly large wave that went over my head and knocked my sunglasses right off my face, and I was unable to find them in the water. So a little later, I embarked on a trek to find a store that had sunglasses. After confusing the location of a dollar store, I ended up at this great beachwear store that had sunglasses and some swell beach shirts that I have constantly been on the look out for. We had our final dinner out at Filet's Waterfront, and then returned to the resort to put together a puzzle that my cousin Cynthia had made through Shutterfly.
The next morning, John and his wife Charlotte took Abuela and I out for breakfast at Waffle House, which I had never eaten at before, and which Charlotte desired to eat at, as she says it's a staple of the East Coast. And it was a very nice waffle.
Most of those in our group had already left, and so we said our goodbyes, concluding a truly fabulous time in North Myrtle Beach, in wonderful company with family, celebrating in the spirit of love that has flowed forth from Abuela to all us in the succeeding generations.
I went with Mom/Dad and Abuela to the Charleston airport, tracing the route Eric and I rode on Monday. There, I bid farewell to all of them, and headed to downtown Charleston for some sightseeing.
I had been to Charleston before in October 2013, and was eager to spend some time sightseeing there again, especially to see some things I hadn't gotten to see when I was there before, especially Fort Sumter, which was closed due to the federal government's partial shutdown that month. So I made a visit there my primary outing this time. I spent plenty of time looking around since I booked my tour at 4 PM. As I ambled around on a hot, Southern day in Charleston, I stumbled upon some interesting places, like Circe Grotto, a sandwich shop where I got a great sandwich for lunch with thick-sliced turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes. Then I found a nice little park/plaza by a fire station at Wentworth and Meeting to eat my lunch. I then walked down to the post office to buy stamps, which is housed in a historic building, and just beyond the service counter was a postal museum (please see picture below).
I then wandered over by the marketplace and went to see the pineapple fountain, which I had missed the last time I was there (please see picture below).
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| Charlotte took this picture of me right before I started indulging in my first ever Waffle House waffle. And yes, I'm wearing one of the shirts I found at that store where I bought new sunglasses. |
I went with Mom/Dad and Abuela to the Charleston airport, tracing the route Eric and I rode on Monday. There, I bid farewell to all of them, and headed to downtown Charleston for some sightseeing.
I had been to Charleston before in October 2013, and was eager to spend some time sightseeing there again, especially to see some things I hadn't gotten to see when I was there before, especially Fort Sumter, which was closed due to the federal government's partial shutdown that month. So I made a visit there my primary outing this time. I spent plenty of time looking around since I booked my tour at 4 PM. As I ambled around on a hot, Southern day in Charleston, I stumbled upon some interesting places, like Circe Grotto, a sandwich shop where I got a great sandwich for lunch with thick-sliced turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes. Then I found a nice little park/plaza by a fire station at Wentworth and Meeting to eat my lunch. I then walked down to the post office to buy stamps, which is housed in a historic building, and just beyond the service counter was a postal museum (please see picture below).
I then wandered over by the marketplace and went to see the pineapple fountain, which I had missed the last time I was there (please see picture below).
Finally, it was time to head to Liberty Square, where I boarded a boat that journeyed through Charleston Harbor to Fort Sumter.
There was such a pleasant breeze blowing throughout the seating area on the boat as we made our way through the harbor, with narration telling us about what we were passing, which happened on the way back, too.
Upon our arrival at Fort Sumter, we went to an area at the top of some fortifications constructed well after the Sectional War. The ranger led a flag-lowering ceremony.
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| The boat I rode on out to Fort Sumter |
There was such a pleasant breeze blowing throughout the seating area on the boat as we made our way through the harbor, with narration telling us about what we were passing, which happened on the way back, too.
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| Charleston as seen from onboard the boat in the harbor |
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| Approaching Fort Sumter |
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| Here the flag is being lowered |
We then had some to look around the fort area, which included a museum with historical items on display. I was very glad to have had the opportunity to finally visit the fort. Seeing the place where this great conflict between North and South began, especially in regards to the military movements that occurred in the months beforehand, and seeing the physical spaces added an extra sense of depth to my understanding of that first battle. And it enhanced my understanding of that piece of the history of the United States.
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| Thanks to the kind person who got this picture of me inside Fort Sumter |
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| Someone in a group of people kindly took this picture of me outside the fort, near what was once the entrance. |
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| Someone sitting in front of these seats got this picture of me enjoying the boat ride back to Liberty Square with a pleasant breeze blowing. |
We then headed back, and upon arrival back at Liberty Square, I headed for Harris Teeter, a grocery store chain in the region I had never heard of before, to get a sandwich for dinner. And then I made my way to the North Charleston Amtrak station. I was delighted to have had the opportunity to do the sightseeing as I did in Charleston, which is a lovely city, and has a pivotal role in the whole narrative of the United States. And I was also delighted by its sense of Southern charm.
After lingering in the pleasantly warm night, and watching the moon rise up in the sky, I boarded the Silver Meteor train #98, headed north. We arrived shortly before 8 AM in Washington, D.C., the following morning, Friday, May 12. I went once again to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for Mass, with a couple of school groups attending Mass as well, and then had breakfast in the cafeteria there. After some more prayer time, I got back on the Red Line, got off at Union Station, and headed for the Russell Senate Office Building, where I got pictures by the office of Senator Marco Rubio--thanks to the staff person who was kind enough to step away from his desk to get the picture of me that appears below, in which I'm wearing the other of the two shirts I bought at that store where I got new sunglasses.
While exiting, I stumbled upon the cafeteria, where I decided to get some of the good eats there for lunch and dinner.
While exiting, I stumbled upon the cafeteria, where I decided to get some of the good eats there for lunch and dinner.
It was then time to get back on the train: I boarded Amtrak train #51, the Cardinal, which pretty much left spot on time. It was another wonderful opportunity to travel through the lovely Virginia countryside, and then take in the spectacular views of the New River Gorge in West Virginia, since it was lighter out later this time, unlike when I rode that route back in January and it got dark around 5 PM or so.
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| Farmland in western Virginia, with animals grazing on the grass |
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| Above and below are pictures of the New River Gorge corridor in West Virginia |
I awoke in sunlight just east of Indianapolis, and the sun bathed the wide fields of Indiana as we made our way north towards Chicago, arriving around 11 AM.
This trip was indeed a grand time to take in the Southeastern United States once again, this time at the famed Myrtle Beach area. It was certainly a relaxing time, and the company of family was great. I was also delighted to extend the experience of the trip into the journey, which gave me more opportunity to see the sights of this country. Indeed, I can say from the experience of this trip that there are so many blessings for me to behold, and I am grateful for the chance to step back and savor the beauty of them.
This trip was indeed a grand time to take in the Southeastern United States once again, this time at the famed Myrtle Beach area. It was certainly a relaxing time, and the company of family was great. I was also delighted to extend the experience of the trip into the journey, which gave me more opportunity to see the sights of this country. Indeed, I can say from the experience of this trip that there are so many blessings for me to behold, and I am grateful for the chance to step back and savor the beauty of them.
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| I took this picture of my feet in the surf of the Atlantic waters |
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| The sunrise at the Atlantic shore at North Myrtle Beach |
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| Sisters enjoying the sand and sun: Abuela, left, and Aunt Carmen, right. This picture was on Abuela's camera. |
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