LIB.ER.TY

1. the quality or state of being free

All wars seem to boil down to one idea - liberty... freedom.
During the Civil War, our country lost more men than we did during World Wars I and II combined. For what? For liberty.

This weekend, our family visited Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Most of our time was spent on the Gettysburg National Battlefield and I found myself questioning if I'm, we're, our country is actually redeeming that loss of life for my, your, our freedom. Are we?

Our tour took us through the three days of the Battle of Gettysburg, notably the most horrific battle of the Civil War and one that turned the tide toward the outcome of freedom. 

Standing atop Seminary Ridge, to our left we could see Gettysburg and to our right the expanse of field where the first battle began.

Just to the right of the small American flag is a actual shell lodged into a downtown Gettysburg home during the battle.  It is one of several that remain in various buildings since those three days in July of 1863.

The photo on the right shows a group of rocks in the middle called Devils Den - a dangerous holding place of the northern troops and one that quite possibly could have cost them the battle.

 

Standing atop Little Round Top overlooking what's known as Death Valley because of the massive loss of life during Day 2 of the battle.

Some items of surprise on our tour were: 

• The town of Gettysburg, where people were living their day to day lives, was smack dab in the middle of the conflict.
• The amount of carnage and bloodshed was astounding. To stand on the same ground where that happened was humbling.
• That a matter of a five minute wait quite possibly caused the outcome to be as it was.
• The land looked like ordinary farmland and was difficult to imagine in a state of bloody battle.
• A small creek running through the battlefield was named Plum Creek for the amount of blood, both northern and southern, that ran through it in those three days.
• The sheer size of the land area covered in three days on foot by the soldiers.

This monument stands on a ridge where the third and final day of battle took place.

On the left, an actual Civil War cannon.
On the right, one of the various state markers noting the participation of the different states in the battle.

After our tour, we visited the National Cemetery where Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863. The bodies of the northern dead were originally quickly buried on the battlefield, but it was soon determined that a more respectful burial was appropriate.  (Southern soldiers were sent home for burial.) Plans for the National Cemetery ensued and bodies were moved and given a final resting place. Not expected to attend since presidents didn't travel during those days, the dedication committee for the cemetery planned to have a famous orator speak who most don't even remember.  When Lincoln surprisingly confirmed his attendance, the committee, of course, had to include him in the ceremony. After the orators 2+ hour speech, Lincoln gave is 2+ minute speech that he thought no one would remember - The Gettysburg Address.

Of course we all remember the beginning, "Four score and seven years ago..."

But it's the ending to which I want to draw attention...

"It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

Freedom isn't free - someone paid the price.  My hope is that I, you, our country redeems them.

This area of graves is for those that were not identified - the unknown.  My Nutter Butter noticed that the gorgeous gold leaves covering the ground here were heart-shaped.

David Wills House - the home where Lincoln stayed November 18 and finished his Gettysburg Address.  This is the exact bed and coverlet used by Lincoln.

At the entrance to the David Wills home with in-character Brigadier General Horace Porter, aide-de-camp to Gen. U.S. Grant. I'm standing where Lincoln actually stood and am getting ready to walk through the very same door that he walked through!

Gettysburg happened to be having their tree lighting ceremony the evening we were there.

We finished the evening at the Blue and Grey Bar and Grill.  The burgers came highly recommended and are named after generals of both the North and the South and come decorated as such! 

Keeping up our family selfie tradition as we travel!

Drowning in Testosterone

Tonight, I found myself in the most peculiar position.  

I had inadvertently nestled myself, whilst blissfully snap, snap, snapping away on my camera, between two very crazed high school wrestling teams!  I don't think I've ever in my life felt more surrounded by testosterone.  As I stood there, I had one of those moments where one removes themselves from the situation but is watching oneself in the situation... you know, like you're floating above your own life.  As I looked at myself, my face so resembled the bright yellow emoji  face with the  light blue head, giant white eyes, with hands pressed to each cheek.  You know the one - the one screaming in fear!  

As the last match intensified, my son's entire wildly cheering team crept closer to the spot I had parked myself with my camera, I moved a little.  They got even more excited and crept further.  I moved a little more. Soon to realize though, I was idiotically moving closer to the opposing crazed team of wrestling maniahood.  Thankfully, it all ended before I was literally a sandwich.  Not exactly my idea of the best first experience with wrestling!

I've been a soccer mom, a baseball mom, a softball mom, a basketball mom, a football mom, a track mom, a ballet mom, a lacrosse mom, a horseback riding mom, a cross country mom, but never... a wrestling mom.  In all of the athletic endeavors of my children, I have never experienced anything quite like this.  I guess it's my completely and totally estrogen-filled-mother body that just doesn't understand why anyone would purposely WANT to go out onto a mat and wrestle. Nothing, I mean nothing, sounds appealing about that to me.

However, I must say, that in the past few short weeks since we became part of the wrestling community, my son has shown incredible discipline.  Not just discipline in practice, but discipline at the breakfast, lunch and dinner table.  He has shown a willingness to try something completely new and foreign to him.  Seriously, who are we kidding? How many of us would put on one of these wrestling "suits" (I'm such a newbie I don't even know what they're called!) and bare ourselves  to a crowd of screaming spectators?  Finally, how many high school boys are willing to get on a mat and demonstrate their strengths and potentially their weaknesses to all that are watching? 

So, call me a proud mom, call me biased, call me crazy if you want.  But for now, I'm learning to swim in this sea of wrestling testosterone to support my not-so-little-guy because I am so incredibly proud of his determination and courage!  Sure do love him!

Goodbye Summer

Of course, fall doesn't officially mark the end of summer until the latter part of September.  But we all know that summer is unofficially over the first day we start back to school, and that day is tomorrow.  Last weekend, I asked my guy to make a impromptu day trip to the beach.  We live about three hours away, so we packed up the car, got up early and headed to the coast. He's oh so good to me!

The day was absolutely gorgeous in spite of the initial off coast storm and we had a fabulous time. Kids played, I read and basked, Chris sited boats and took a turn or two in the ocean himself.  Despite the great day, it was just weird - weird to be a family of four rather than five.  Something I'm having a little bit of difficulty getting used to seeing.  Something I don't really want to get use to feeling.  I love my family - I love when we are all together.  

Regardless of how I want things to be though, life progresses on - the natural order of things occurs and we must adapt and see the positive.  As my youngest-one-of-three put it today, "Hey Mom, you only have to pack two lunches this school year!"  Yep... true.

  

But really, I wouldn't mind packing three...

Grad Gift

It's always funny to me how gifting someone else truly becomes a gift to yourself...

I have come to learn as a parent that the best gifts I can give my children are experiences and memories.  Sometimes that involves very little time and money; others, it involves more of both - regardless, they always win and so do I!

For our daughter's high school graduation gift, my guy and I decided to take our girlie on a trip to New York City.  She had never been before and we knew that it would be one of those great opportunities to make some fabulous memories with her.  We, of course, were not disappointed.

Let me start by saying that our oldest-one-of-three has the least inhibitions.  In other words, she is not shy, not in the least. We began our by driving from my in-laws' house in Pennsylvania with a stop to pick a dear friend of Audrey's in New Jersey. From there we took the train into New York City!

The two Audrey's - prep for NYC trip and our train car... I can't resist images with linear features. :-)

Upon arrival, we navigated our bags through Penn Station and up to the street to catch a cab to the hotel and her first words were, "Wow, it's exactly as I imagined it would be"! Her first cab experience started her official time in NYC.  Remember that no inhibitions trait... She quickly hopped into the front seat with the cabbie, turned to him and said, "So... how's your day going? Are you having a good day?"  I think she caught him off guard and I got the impression his English was limited.  She wasn't deterred.  She turned to him again and said, "What's your favorite thing to do in the city?"  His response, "Drive a car." She looked at him for a brief second and said, "Okay... well good."  And them simply danced in her seat to the song blaring from the van beside us.  Memories in the making!

After a quick stop at the hotel and prepping for Broadway, we were off to see a show. Wicked!!

Gershwin Theatre - her first Broadway show!  My guy wasn't quite as excited about her Broadway pick as the rest of us were!

Elizabeth and Audrey - like night and day but great friends none the less! (Yes, her hair is blue on the ends...) :-/

My girlie and me!

The show was phenomenal!  And watching her watch the show was just as good! Making memories... 

Times Square Panoramic

After the show was a quick tour of Times Square - lights, lights, and more lights! A change into more walkable shoes and clothes, a stroll down 5th Avenue and a stop for 11:30 PM chicken nuggets at the NYC Chick-fil-a wrapped up our evening!

The next morning started early with a subway ride to Central Park. 

Panoramic of Central Park from the top of Belvedere Castle

Belvedere Castle

Upper East side on the left and Upper West side on the right.

Audrey and Elizabeth with the Upper West side in the background

My girlie with her Audrey Hepburn glasses look...

We strolled through the park and made a stop at Belvedere Castle which gave us some nice views and photo ops. The word "belvedere" actually means panoramic view in Italian.  The castle is now an official weather station and is built at the highest elevation point in the park.  It's been in numerous movies and TV shows and even mentioned in several books. Making memories...

Then we were off to visit the American Museum of Natural History (the "set" of the movie Night at the Museum). 

Life size model of Blue Whale

Audrey and Elizabeth in front of the giant Redwood Tree display.

Left - Theodore Roosevelt Rotunda and dinosaur display - both equally impressive!
Right - Audrey and me taking pics while Dad reads the history!
This section of Redwood Tree was taken from a tree that was estimated to have begun growing around 550 AD and cut down in 1891, taking two men 13 days with axes.  The tree was 331 feet tall and 90 feet around the base.  It contains 1342 annual rings and this section measures 16 feet 5 inches wide! Absolutely amazing!

Audrey wanted to focus her time in the museum on the astronomy parts of the museum so we visited the planetarium and the cosmic pathways section.  We found out there that we would all weigh several thousand pounds on the sun so I was eager to move along! We also spent some time in the Ocean Life room and really gained some perspective on how large a whale actually is from the life size model of a blue whale!  Huge, people - it's HUGE! My favorite part of the tour was the section with all the gems!  Beautiful stones and minerals! Making memories...

Our next stop was lunch and then on to shopping on 5th Avenue, well mainly shopping at Tiffany's was her goal!

Audrey receiving surprise letter and then at customer service for pick up!

Outside the Tiffany's store in NYC

This one speaks for itself!

We found a quick stop for lunch where my girlie received a letter stating that her sweet friend Elizabeth has a surprise waiting for her at Tiffany's!!!  Any girls dream, right? So we finished lunch and headed in the direction of 5th Avenue!  We of course had to replicate the Audrey Hepburn photo of her looking into Tiffany's from outside the store window and then it was inside to see all of the gorgeous pieces!  I want to compliment Tiffany's customer service.  I have only been in this store twice but I must say that the employees here treat every single person as if they are buying the most expensive item in the store. It is TOP notch! We first went to the the 6th floor for customer service where Audrey picked up her surprise - a beautiful beaded bracelet with the Tiffany engraved heart! We then visit the other floors just to look and my girlie had budgeted some of her summer big girl job (CNA at a senior living facility) money to make herself a purchase.  Her quote, "I wiped a lot of adult butts to be able to make this adult purchase!"  Yep - no inhibitions! Making memories...

A stroll down 5th Avenue, a few shopping stops more, and another subway ride landed us at the lower end of Manhattan.  The 9/11 Memorial was on her list to see.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

5th Avenue

St. Paul's Chapel - "The Little Chapel that Stood"
A place of prayer for George Washington.  A place of stamina during trial.  A place of respite in a time of need.

One of the two reflecting pools at the memorial site.  Both are in the footprints of the former Twin Towers.  Both have the "void" in the middle of the pool symbolizing the loss never to be forgotten. Between the two, each name of those whose lives were taken because of this act of terror are inscribed around the pools.

One World Trade
A single building erected just beside the site of the former Twin Towers.  It is is bit taller than the towers were - 1776 feet to be exact, representing the year America claimed its freedom. To me, it says, America was down, but it was not defeated!
Never forget...

My Doodlebug was only three years old when the Twin Towers were terrorized and life as we knew it changed.  And while she doesn't remember anything about that horrendous day, her incredibly strong sense of pride in her country called America gives her the ability to feel the magnitude of that day. She somberly rubbed her hand along the names lining the reflective pool.  She wanted to hear the details of that day, imagine the chaos and debris and terror, see the small, unscathed church where tired firemen slept, and the single surviving tree that was nursed back to health and replanted at the memorial.  This is part of her life history. Making memories... 

Our final stop of the NYC tour was to reach Battery Park and see Lady Liberty standing in the harbor.

It was an appropriate ending to our whirlwind tour.  The calm and peacefulness of the water.  The breeze off of the water. Lady Liberty standing tall after we just left a somber site.  The time of day with the sun getting lower in the sky... it all just worked.  Yes, we were tired, but it was a good tired. Making memories...

We took our sweaty, tired selves to the nearest sweaty subway station and headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags.

Beautiful Art Deco staircase in our hotel.

Taxi Entertainment

As we said goodbye to NYC, we (Elizabeth, my Guy and I) were once again treated by my girlie's enthusiasm for life!  Her conversation with this cabbie was the best.

Questions asked by our daughter:

So, how's your day been?

Ooooh, this cab driver over here is giving you the eye! Do you guys every get into fights?

Or are you all just friends and go for drinks after your shift?

Have you ever been rear ended?

"What?"

Have you ever been rear ended?

"What?"

Have your ever been hit in the back of your cab by another car?

And the perfect ending right in front of Penn Station:

My Daughter: Whoooooooa! You almost honked at that person!

Cabbie: You want to honk the horn?

My Daughter: Yes!!! Really? Can I?

Cabbie: Sure.

HONK

My Daughter: I'm honking at New York City!!!!

Cabbie: You want to do it again?

My Daughter: YES!

HONK!

My Daughter: Wildly giggling!

Cabbie: Laughing out loud...

I think she made his day!  I know she sure made my mine!!  Making memories...