It started, of course, at the 33rd Annual Pancakes on the Plaza festival in downtown Santa Fe.
The festival seemed to bring out the best of the USA, including inter-racial couples...
... religious expression (ahem, France) ...
... adorable kids with chubby cheeks wearing American flags ...
... and crazy public radio types. (This is a live broadcast from KSFR 101.1 FM, Santa Fe Public Radio.)
We also took the obligatory nostalgia bath with old American cars (now put out of business by Japanese engineering) and (sorta) slinky women ...
... as well as the crazy old men that keep these things running (the cars, that is).
No Independence Day would be complete without recognizing that which gives us all this freedom, democracy. So, here's AJ at the New Mexico State Senate chambers ...
... and don't forget that other branch of government, the judiciary. (Alas, I couldn't get a photo with the Governor to help us with the executive branch.)
We also got a little bit of God to add some meaning to the day...
... as well as a memorial to illegal immigration. (No joke -- that's what the plaque said.)
Finally, we ended the day camped out at Santa Fe High School (Go Demons!) to watch the fireworks.
And since this is small-town America, of course I would run into my friend and former business school classmate, Meg Stocker, thousands of miles from our respective homes.
Happy Birthday, USA.
It was so great to randomly run into you yesterday at the stadium in Santa Fe, Michael! My version of the pic will be on FB tonight. :-) It's been fun getting the chance to catch up on your road trip blog now that I have Internet again, too. Keep having a fun time!
ReplyDeleteMeg
I liked your mutant beetle... You realize that the hub of America's nulear activities take place nearby at Los Alamos.....
ReplyDeleteWould you ever have thunk that you would be eating pancakes in Santa Fe on Independence Day? That's what makes America great... Next year you might be at your Amex desk in Manhattan drinking Vitamin Water. Dad