Happy Birthday!

[skyring]

The plane came in from Heathrow, passing over Boston late in the evening, where the fireworks were reflected in the harbour. A sparkling sight from ten kilometres up.

There was some delay at JFK, with luggage and immigration. A plane had come in just ahead of ours, loaded down with anxious folk from Africa, and things took their time. It was a few minutes shy of midnight before I got to the immigration bloke.

He looked at my passport.

He looked at me.

"Happy Birthday!" I smiled.

He took a couple of beats, then the joke sank in and he smiled back.

I hope I made his Fourth of July a little bit happier.

Me, I had a grand time in the early morning, with friends to show me Manhattan. So many things to see - my eyes were wide open until the fatigue caught up with me a little after dawn and I started falling asleep in mid-sentence, wanting to see everything but needing just a little battery surge to keep going.

So many things to love about America. Our big brother, showing the way to independence, democracy, a better way of doing things.

A few things to dislike, but on balance, I'm a fan.

Happy Birthday, America!

Comments

[emperor-fool.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Pete. It's still the third here (That's one way you're ahead of us!), but our birthday is coming soon...

[skyring.livejournal.com]

The US Embassy here had its official function last Friday!!!

[tzurriz.livejournal.com]

Most embassies hold their celebrations a few days early because the 4th is really more of a family holiday. People spend the time cooking out at home with friends and family, and don't want to have anything to do with whatever they do for work.

[islandmomma.livejournal.com]

Couldn-t put it better, I'll just second that. I spent a couple of very happy 4ths in the US / wish I was there now!