In six minutes it will officially be The Fourth of July and I’m on the deck in the most beautiful comfortable weather, listening to folks setting off fireworks.

The Fourth of July. Lincoln’s birthday. Actually, any presidential birthday. Memorial Day. Inauguration Day, every four years. These are my big days. I guess I dig Labor Day simply because of Kettering’s Holiday At Home Festival.

Tomorrow will include watching the movie musical, 1776, and probably listening to Sam Waterston’s 2007 Naturalization Ceremony speech at Monticello, again.

Two hundred, forty-five years ago, The Declaration of Independence was announced. It would not officially be signed until August 2nd.

Two friends who would become the bitterest of political enemies, would die fifty years later. With their legendary friendship restored, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson would live until 1826, dying hours apart.

With the wind chimes clanging in the night’s breeze and the fireworks booming in the distance, I imagine what those early days of celebrating Independence Day must have been like.

Two hundred, forty-five years.

Thanks, Mr. Adams and Mr. Jefferson, and the rest of the gentlemen and ladies!