Cradle of Liberty

We love coming up with trips with our Grandkids in order to spend quality time with them, yet interesting - possibly educational - and very fun. Larry and Julia are really the only ones we've been able to do it with as yet....Ian being so young, and our Jessica being so far. But we hold out hope to have it be something we can do with all of them at some point. Yesterday was Larry 4's turn. We chose Philadelphia history for him.

Living so near the birth place of our nation, we wanted to share more of it with him.

The day was gorgeous, although hot!!!

We set out from Woodcrest train station at about 9:45 AM and for the next 7 hours or so, we had a terrific time learning and laughing.
We hit the Visitor's Center first and as we exited a movie presentation young Larry and I both locked eyes with other family members! We all sort of stood in shock for a moment. There were Aunt Rita Hamilton, her daughter Rita and her son, Jim with his two boys. You could not possibly plan to meet that way! We had a few minutes' reunion and then we parted ways. We thought! Later in the day as we were enjoying Bains' sandwiches at the Bourse, the whole family came in and we sat at adjoining tables. Later, after Jim and boys had left for home, we encountered the Ritas one more time in Franklin Square - one of my absolute favorites spots in Philly. Franklin - what a fascinating mind!

We met up with two ladies I think were sisters as we stood in line at Independence Hall. We were discussing Franklin - and I was recommending they be sure to visit the Square. I was recalling all his inventions - and how amazing it was that he thought of things that he did. Where did he get his ideas? The one lady said "Aliens!" The other replied, "he invented Aliens?" We had a good laugh at that. (do you think he might have?)

Larry we hope you had as much fun as we did!