Things You May Not Know About July 4th..by Jim Terry

     

 Isn't it hard to believe that another half a year is gone and another 4th of July is HERE?  Where does the time go?  We hope that your day's activities are SAFE and FUN!!!  Instead of doing a personal blog on this day and upon further research, I thought it may be interesting to look at some of the history of things that have happened or are associated with this day we call "Independence Day."  Some of this information is quirky and really doesn't draw a lot of curiosity, but some of it I found to be very interesting, informative and fun. Who would have guessed that we have had THREE presidents die on this day?  This information is presented to you by Amy Bingham and was published by ABC news on July 4th, 2012.  Enjoy!

"1776: Pomp and Parade, Two Days Late

America's second president John Adams is notorious for his love of Independence Day. But if you ask Adams, the country has gotten the date wrong for the past 236 years.

Adams wrote that July 2, the date the Second Continental Congress voted to declare independence from Britain, not July 4, the date Congress' president John Hancock signed the Declaration of Independence, should be "the great anniversary Festival."

"The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America," Adams wrote on July 3, 1776. "It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."

At least he got the pomp and parade part right.

1826 and 1831: The Death of a President (or Three)

For America's first five presidents, the Fourth of July was not only a celebration of their great achievement, but it was also, apparently, a prime day to die. Three of America's first five presidents died on Independence Day.

John Adams, the second president, and Thomas Jefferson, the third president, were bitter rivals throughout their political careers, but nearly twins in their deaths. They died hours apart on July 4, 1826, Adams at age 90 in Massachusetts and Jefferson at age 83 in Virginia.

James Monroe, the fifth president, also died on July 4, five years after Adams and Jefferson in 1831. The 30th president, Calvin Coolidge, was born on the Fourth of July in 1872.

1863: Vicksburg Victory

After one month, 15 miles of trenches, countless battles, near-constant bombing, Confederate Gen. John Pemberton surrendered to Union forces at Vicksburg, Miss. That surrender, on July 4, 1863 would mark a turning point in the Civil War, when the scales tipped in the North's favor.

The South did not surrender for another two years. The town of Vicksburg refused to celebratethe Fourth of July for the next 81 years.

1870: Congress Makes It Official

It took nearly 100 years for Congress to make the Fourth of July an official holiday, despite the widespread celebrations that had been ringing in America's birthday since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.

Boston was ahead of the national curve, becoming the first city to designate the Fourth a city-wide holiday in 1783. That's the same year Gov. Alexander Martin issued a state order making North Carolina the first state to officially celebrate U.S. independence on July 4.

1884: A French Birthday Present, Size XXL

The United States got what may be the country's largest physical birthday present on July 4, 1884, when the French presented it with the Statue of Liberty. It took four months to assemble the 151-foot-tall statue, which was shipped from Paris in hundreds of pieces.

While the statue was intended to commemorate America's centennial, it was not formally dedicated until 10 years after the fact, when President Grover Cleveland held a Statue of Liberty ceremony on October 28, 1886.

In other 1884 news, miners in Swan City, Colo., blew up their local post office on Independence Day because the town did not supply them with fireworks.

1912: The Fourth Goes Global

It may be America's birthday, but the United States isn't the only country that celebrates it. Denmark started throwing a Fourth of July bash in 1912 after thousands of Danes emigrated to the United States.

Thousands of Danish Americans and U.S. military personnel stationed in Europe celebrate Independence Day at the annual outdoor festival in Rebild, Denmark. The Danish tourism office bills it as the largest Fourth of July celebration outside the United States.

Former presidents such as Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush have been keynote speakers at the celebration, as have other famous Americans like Walter Cronkite and Walt Disney, according to the Rebild National Park Society.

1938: Federal Employees Rejoice

Congress officially declared July 4 a federal holiday back in 1870, but it took them nearly 70 years to give federal employees a paid day off. July 4, 1938, was the first Independence Day that federal employees picnicked, barbequed and fireworked without denting their paychecks.

1998: A Presidential Premonition?

The current president's first-born daughter, Malia, was born on the Fourth of July 14 years ago. For the past three years she has celebrated her birthday with hundreds of military families at a picnic on the White House lawn.

Also in 1998, Congress passed a bill declaring the 21 days between Flag Day and Independence Day as "Honor America Days," encouraging Americans to celebrate their country for nearly a solid month. No more feeling guilty about throwing a barbeque and lighting sparklers every night in June."

Lastly, and in a true patriotic fashion, look at the reaction of the people around this girl when she sings the national anthem at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.  There is definitely a hush among the crowd as she motivates, draws in and inspires all who listen! Remember that "Men love their country, not because it is GREAT, but because it is their OWN!" ~Seneca~.

 HAPPY 4th of July!!!

 

♦ Hope you'll let us share your stories and photos here at our residence "In a Nutshell." Email us at nutshellstories@gmail.com.

The Road Home...by Angie Terry

           I love road trips.  I plan at least once a year to take the road home. I usually can’t sleep well the night before because of the anticipation. I spend hours dreaming of the hot sun on my skin as I drive, the wide variety of music I have playing through my car stereo and no matter how warm the temperature outside, the feeling of the wind through my hair as I drive with my windows down. It is my own personal concert and I love the warmth and sweat from the sun. Recently, the day arrived for me to do my famous, and highly anticipated road trip home.  To my dismay, it was cloudy with chance of rain.  Needless to say, there went my dreamy, sunny drive!  I consoled myself with the thought that I still had my music!  I excitedly packed my car, started the engine, turned on my music, took a deep breath while putting my car in drive and waved goodbye to my darling house as I  began my road trip home.

           To say I love music and its ability to entertain me for days, is an understatement. Let me further explain. I love listening to Pandora in my car.   I also have the ability to plug in a USB connection and with a thumb drive of 16 gigabytes, I can drive and drive and listen to A LOT of my favorite songs!  After driving a couple of hours enjoying my favorite songs and Pandora station, I stopped for a bathroom break and, much to my surprise, when I came back out to my car all my apps had froze and I could not access any of my USB or Pandora.  To make things worse the radio was stuck on a fuzzy country sounding station and the volume was stuck on level too loud for my enjoyment!  After much frustration, I turned off the music and focused on the 8 hours of driving I still had to get to my father’s house. The harsh reality hit me that my idea of my road trip had drastically changed. I started down the highway with cloudy skies, no music, with windows rolled up tight the only sound being the tires on pavement.  As I drove those many hours, enjoying the beautiful scenery, I had the GREAT blessing of reliving my childhood in my mind.  I thought of all my loved ones, those here and those who have passed on and the tears flowed as I drove over the border of Idaho, my home!  For the first time in my life I really saw the beauty of the irrigation sprinklers on the potato fields and realized what a gift it was that the focus of my surroundings and the memory of loved ones was able to dominant my road trip home!  I rolled my down my window to hear the sound of the sprinklers  and took in the familiar smell of clay-based soil freshly moistened.  The overwhelming nostalgia of sight and smell made me contemplate how much I miss those Idaho sprinklers.

           My Road Trip home was successful!  I did visit most of my family and many loved ones who have been laid to rest in Idaho. I also attended a high school graduation for my nephew, Jordan (of whom I am so proud) and was able to hear him sing with the Bonnevaire’s Choir (my high school choir) at his graduation. Such a wonderful, beautiful time for me!  This vacation proved to be a much needed re-visitation of home, family and memories.  On my return trip, as I crossed the border from Idaho to Oregon, my car’s technology center miraculously began working again!  My apps, my music completely restored and with a newly announced heat advisory…I cranked my stereo, rolled down my windows and reflected on the importance of my quiet road trip home.  I was so thankful for the time I had in my mind, in my quiet car with the clouds!  I continued on the road back to Washington, windows rolled down, enjoying my music with the sun on my face sending warmth and light to my body and soul.  The BEST. Road. Trip. Ever!

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!  

Please remember to give thanks to all those we have lost and to all those that have given us our freedom! We hope your Memorial Day celebrations are safe and fun!

"In Good Hands"...by Gina Waite

I remember so many details about my Mom.  The sound of her feet across the floor, the way she’d hum her favorite songs as she dusted her beautiful Knick-knacks in the living room, the smell of the floral-inspired body spray she’d wear that would intoxicate everyone in the room while she was in it!  The sound of her laugh…when she’d REALLY getting laughing, tiny little squeaks with intermittent high-pitch exclamations of joy which usually resulted in a terrible coughing fit and sometimes, even sneezing.  I loved listening to my Mom wind our grandfather clock, the unexplainable language that would beset us ALL whilst listening and watching my Mom with her grandchildren.  Our favorite pastime together, watching movies while eating popcorn that had been generously interlaced with chocolate M&M’s all washed down with frequent swigs of Pepsi Max. 

It’s the memory of her hands…so capable, so talented…that is a most cherished and tender thought!  Though genetically gifted with pigmentation and elasticity, my Mom’s hands were also beautifully graced with scars that indicated the years of loving service to her family and friends.  The thing I miss most about her hands…the feeling of mine in hers, all that she taught me and the beautiful magic she created with them!  My children, both gifted with beautiful genetic traits from my Mother, remind me so much of her.  My daughter has my Mother’s hands.  So beautiful and thrilling to witness the similarities, I just love to hold them as a reminder of how closely connected we ALL are.  My son has my Mother’s cheekbones and smile…I could glance at his face all day, that is…if he were near me and weren’t a teen with a very decided opinion at his Mother glancing at him for long periods of time.  As much as I am grateful for these similarities…it’s my children’s ability to love each other so completely that resembles my Mother’s greatest quality…her ability to LOVE her family and be so closely connected to each member.

Recently, my children entered a ballroom competition together that most assuredly they’d practiced for and were committed to doing their best in.  As this was my son’s last year of competing with his sister as a high school student, the level of commitment from my daughter to her brother was far greater than any desire for her own aggrandizement.  When the two took to the floor I could tell within 30 seconds of them dancing together that the stress of her worrying about her individual performance, for the sake of her brother, coupled with the drawn out symptoms of mono had taken a huge toll and that a medal for my son’s final competition was unfortunately, out of reach.  Concerned about them, I ran to where they’d been ushered off of the dance floor.  When I found them, my son, holding his sister’s hand repeatedly telling her, “It’s okay…you did the best you could today!  I love you and I’m just so glad you’re alright.”    My son’s concern for his sister’s well-being far surpassed his desire for a medal. My eyes heavy laden with tears, I took in all that was before me.  Since that day, my heart, so completely full of a Mother’s love, have felt the influence and example of my own Mother so near.  I love my Mom!  The example of love she was to her children, and grandchildren, will live on and most definitely is…in good hands! 

Snakes, Stages And Thank"sssss LitllBee"..."I Love You Too!"...by Jim Terry

     I recently was able to go home and spend some time with family in Idaho.  Upon my arrival, I was welcomed with open arms from my sister and her family who were allowing me to stay at their home.  As I walked up the stairs and into the back bedroom where I was going to be staying, I noticed several drawings of snakes that were carefully placed upon the bed in which I was going to be sleeping.  I witnessed a very familiar handwriting and signature placed upon each picture that I had seen before.  It was from my nephew Benson also known, in his own words, as "LitllBee" (Little Bee).

 He loves to draw snakes for me because I told him once about my fear of snakes after being bitten when I was a young boy. He also attempts, at every chance he gets, to scare the bajeezus out of me by hissing, "ssssssssss," and jumping out from behind corners. As my sister entered the room and because it was close to eleven o’clock pm, she gave me a description of each and every drawing and what they meant in lieu of my nephew not being able to do it himself since his bedtime was at eight.  She continued by saying, “And just for your information, he is in an interesting stage right now. Night.”
       
      I had to ask myself  “what stage is that?” 

     As she proceeded to slowly yet gently close the door, she glanced back at me with a witty and clever “just you wait” look.

     After she left the room, it made me think for a moment about what the stages of life are.  So I did a quick search and this is what I found on the internet…http://www.ralphrowbottom.info/the-stages-of-life-a-new-look/

Stage	Name	Usual Starting Age
1	Babe-in-arms	from birth
2	Toddler	about 1
3	Infant	about 2
4	Schoolchild	about 5
5	Adolescent	about 11
6	Young adult	about 20
7	Mature adult	late 20’s

     It was clear from my research, that my nephew was conclusively and positively in the “schoolchild” stage.  He clearly fits the description…six years old and now going to school.  As I continued to read the description further about this stage, I proceeded to ask myself another question, “how hard could that be?”

     I awoke the next morning refreshed and ready to face my day. My nephew told my sister he would “allow me to sleep until eight…if I needed to.”  You have to realize that life for my sister and her husband starts, NOT AT, but BEFORE the crack of dawn due to having three small kids in their home ranging in age from one to six years old.  I figured that since I was permitted to have a good night’s sleep from the consideration of my nephew, that I would be able to return the favor to my sister and detain at least one or two of the kids with afternoon activities which would then allow her to catch a much needed nap.  She recommended I take her oldest, my nephew, to the park to play, “fly the quadcopter” and run out some of his energy.

     It was a beautiful day with white puffy clouds, light breezes and temperatures in the low to mid sixties.  The breath of spring was in the air and noticeable due to the several blades of green grass popping through the dead brown landscape that was formed from old man winter’s touch. On the way to the park, we also noticed some bright flowering tulips on the south side of some of the homes we passed and even observed the beginning stages of some buds on the trees just waiting to unfold in the warmth of the sun’s light.

     We had three, fully charged, batteries with us that would allow us to fly his quadcopter for sometime.  While flying his quadcopter in the park, Benson noticed that a dog being walked by his owner was a bit too curious about his flying toy.  I kept reassuring him that the dog wouldn’t ruin his toy and we would keep it safe. It was about twenty minutes later when the gentleman and the dog, who were walking the circumference of the park, crossed our path. It was to my disappointment and dismay that I heard the following statement come from my nephew's mouth... 

     “You know your dog is gonna get it if he ruins my quadcopter don’t you?”

     I think we, myself and the man with the dog, were both so speechless from my nephew’s remark, that all we could do is to provide each other a puzzled look as he continued on with his dog.  I was beginning to have just a small taste of what my sister’s comment meant about my nephew being “in an interesting stage right now.”

     After a long talk with him about manners and respecting adults and making him apologize to the man with the dog, we then left the park and continued to run a couple of errands.  I quickly found out by the end of day one, that the stage my sister was referring to is one that consists of argumentative, quarrelsome, always being right repartee. This type of behavior with my nephew was relentless, directed towards everyone and continued throughout the four days that I was there and, admittedly, really started to annoy me.

     During my last night at my sister’s home, I was able to have a pleasant discussion with her and my brother-in-law. As we sat on their couch and talked about life and, yes, “LittlBee’s” stage that he is in right now, I have to confess that I had the opportunity to reconsider what stage of life I was in shortly following the end of our discussion. 

     Do you remember how back in the day before iPhones and all the cool technology we have now to help keep us organized, we would, or at least I would, write important events on a calendar so I could remember them?  Well, it was upon the conclusion of our conversation that night and just before we all went to bed that my sister pointed out that Benson had a calendar in his room and had marked out two very important events in his life. She enthusiastically recommended that I “check it out” before I went to bed. 

     As I went up the stairs to his room and quietly opened the door as to not wake him, I noticed the calendar my sister spoke of hanging on his wall at a perfect height for a young boy of age six to write on.  As I tip toed across the room in order to get a closer look and just as my sister stated, there were only two dates marked out in the month of February. 

     Apparently he had been so excited for his Uncle Jim to come visit him, that he clearly wrote my name on the 19^th, when I arrived, and again on the 22^nd, when I was headed back to California.  The only other thing written on the calendar was a Dad and son outing, also on the 22^nd, that was for the “Harlin globe troo.rs” (Harlem Globetrotters). 

     At the moment I saw this, I literally had to reexamine what stage of life I was in.  Was I really in the “mature adult” stage?  Maybe “LittlBee,” my nephew, was the “mature adult” and I was the “schoolchild” just trying to catch up?  How could something as simple a name written on a calendar make someone feel so small yet also make you feel so wonderful at the same time?  I felt like the grinch who stole Christmas when he realized that a situation, which he perceived in an entirely different light, may be just a "little bit more" and easily made my heart grow "three sizes that day." 

     Yes, a lesson was indeed learned on this particular night by an old "schoolchild."  So before I left his room and because I was feeling a bit guilty about my own behavior I had exhibited that weekend–yet grateful at the same time to this young child for helping an older man realize some of my own faults–I looked over at this sweet little nephew of mine whose face was dimly lit by the warm pale light and thanked him by quietly whispering, “thank'ssssssss' LitllBee...I love you too!” 

     What stage of life are you in?

♦ Hope you'll let us share your stories and photos here at our residence "In a Nutshell." Email us at nutshellstories@gmail.com.

Happy Easter

We couldn't pass up an opportunity to "thank you" and to wish you a Happy Easter. We hope your day was filled with love, family, fun and remembering the event of the day!

Stay tuned for the next blog on the 4th of April!

"Finding the Feel Good"...by Gina Waite

I ALWAYS admired the fact that my Mom’s, “In A Nutshell” was a feel good column…little excerpts of the goodness and light in people and situations. I started the loveliest, feel good little story that was prompted by the interaction of two, sweet young girls! I hope to finish that story soon but after losing two of my own friends in the last five days, my feel good story would have ended up feeling A LOT less hopeful and A LOT less feel good! Here’s what my thoughts, and ideas, have turned to…

Life can be a difficult…it’s interlaced with hardship and trial with only intermittent bursts of joy! I realize that happiness is a choice and a concerted daily effort…one that requires finding the good in the sad or bad. I can do this, I know I can do this…but not without the help of giving of myself, to other people. Finding ways to do good things for others is a welcomed escape from the pain and anguish that life besets all of us.

My friends, the ones who recently graduated from the education of this life experience, influenced my life in ways I couldn’t possibly have progressed to, without their involvement. In helping to serve them and their ailing bodies, they ended up serving me! I learned to appreciate things like the ability to walk, and talk! It doesn’t take long, in the service of your fellow beings, to recognize the good and blessings in your own life. So I’ve made it to the final “feel good” of my Mom’s feel good, column. No matter your understanding of life and the hereafter, Albert Pine understood that “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others, and the World, remains and is immortal!” Thank you for what you did for me, Cori and Dee…love you!!!

*Hope you'll let us share your stories and photos at our residence www.marleneterry.blogspot.com "In a Nutshell." Email us at nutshellstories@gmail.com.