Boston Day 2 - Happy Birthday!

Ok, I used to hate having my birthday on a holiday. All my friends were busy or out of town. Some family members wished me Happy Independence Day and forgot it was my birthday. Way too many red, white, and blue cakes. But as an adult I have embraced it. It's awesome always having off/being able to take a long weekend. And who doesn't love celebrating their birthday with fireworks? Sure there are still the downsides but if I had to pick a holiday for a birthday, this is certainly a good one.

And Boston...great place to feel patriotic and really fall in love with the day.

The day started at the Old State House (and the site of the Boston Massacre), where the read the Declaration of Independence every year. It wasn't really read until the 18(?) thanks to the joys of long travel in those days, but why wait? Anyway, this was pretty awesome. I, and I think most people, don't pay too much to the details of the Declaration, but it's pretty moving. I was all fired up afterwards. It's a giant "fuck you!" If more people were able to revolt like that, or stand up for their beliefs so eloquently, people might actually be moved to change. Standing on the street with a sign of Obama with a Hitler mustache? Not really as powerful as this strongly worded letter. I feel ready for a revolution!

Birthday confetti!

 Next we took a trolley tour of the city, to get our bearings a bit. helped when we were walking the Freedom trail later and could pintpoint some of the locations.

Bunker Hill Monument

Kennedy roses

 

We had cannolis for lunch in Little Italy. Where they also have weird street art.

And then more wandering/Freedom Trail.

Paul Revere's House

Yeah, we saw a lot of dead people.

Sam Adams

Paul Revere

Mother Goose

The birthday included an awesome birthday sash. I'm doing this every year - it was so fun. I have never had so many people wish me happy birthday. And I got free cookies.

There was sangria and then we headed out for the Boston Pops and fireworks.

The Pops were fun, but there was not nearly enough patriotic music. And you can't see the fireworks from there, so we were forced into an insane crowd and had to stand for the show because it was just crazy town. Still, it was a great firework display.

Go America!

And me!