Dear Reader:

There are still some historical dates that stick in my memory neurons from my “old” teaching days. July 2 is one of them… for two different reasons.

1. July 2 is the real celebration date for the Declaration of Independence.

Independence Day Should Have Been July 2!

July 2, 1776 is the day that the Continental Congress actually voted for independence. John Adams, in his writings, even noted that July 2 would be remembered in the annals of American history and would be marked with fireworks and celebrations. The written Declaration of Independence was dated July 4 but wasn’t actually signed until August 2. Fifty-six delegates eventually signed the document, although all were not present on that day in August.

*I remember this information dashed my age-old vision of all the delegates lining up at one time (supposedly on July 4) to sign the declaration. Actually John Trumbull took some creative liberties with his famous painting ingrained in every elementary student’s mind as the place and time of the voting and signing…didn’t happen that way. (But eventually it did get done!) *That is more than we can say today about getting anything done in Congress 🙂

2. July 2 also marks the day that the Susan B. Anthony coin was circulated as the new dollar coin minted from 1979 -1981. Due to its small size (being mistaken for a quarter) the public didn’t take to it and circulation stopped in 1981. With the new golden dollar coin cited to come out in 2000 the Susan B. Anthony was minted again until 1999.

 Susan B. Anthony probably would have liked all the controversy over the smaller dollar coin with her face and name on it. She spent most of her life fighting uphill battles in her attempt to bring suffrage rights to women.

When one visits her home in Rochester, New York…the first room tourists are lead into is the parlor. It was here that she was arrested for trying to vote in the 1872 Presidential Election. (You go girl!)

Her home later became headquarters for the National American Woman Suffrage Association…of which Susan B. Anthony was president.

I feel sure  Susan B. Anthony felt better about being replaced on the silver dollar coin by the larger, thicker gold coin when the emblem on it was of  Sacagawea and her baby. *Another feminist for her time who had to go along with Lewis and Clark on their expedition to give them directions…(We all know men never stop to ask!)

*I will always hold the Susan B. Anthony silver dollar in my special, personal memory box because I have had several students, all winners of the annual SC Scrapbook Contest, tell me they kept their scrapbook, blue ribbon, and Susan B. Anthony silver dollar. It always touches my heart!

So until tomorrow….Think about how every day has an historical story behind it…from some year and somebody in the past…however, more importantly make this day and every day of your life a  ‘top dollar’ day with your face on it!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Anne sent me a photo of her first moon flower of the season that bloomed last night….my blooms still have a ways to go….just gorgeous Anne!

Mollie sent me these photo of her and Eloise dressed up for a bridal shower given for Aunt Whitney! (I told Mollie one picture looks like Eloise is wearing one large bunny ear!:) Cute, cute!

Mandy sent me this picture of Jakie’s newly decorated bedroom…he had outgrown his once crib/ now trundle bed and had been sleeping on the bottom bunk in Eva Cate’s room. He wanted bunk beds too…so he got them and Eva Cate is helping him adjust back to sleeping in his room by sleeping on his top bunk (he’s too little still for that) to keep him in his room at night.

A big challenge! Jakie not only dreams of cars and trucks…he plays with them until he falls asleep. Vroom!!!!! Vroom!!! Vroom!!!! (Now aren’t those soothing sounds to fall asleep to?)

Brooke sent me this adorably cute picture of Caleb (Brooke’s little ‘Boogie Boy”/grandson) His Uncle Henry took him fishing for the first time….a picture for the photo album! What is a July 4 holiday without some fishing thrown in? Cool glasses Caleb!

Dear Reader: