Travels with Tricia

Fountains run in the foreground, with the Washington Monument as the focal point.

Last Updated:

Happy Independence Day (& Birthday Greetings for a Special Someone)

Posted by

Tricia A. Mitchell

·

,
American flags Washington D.C.

Lincoln Memorial Washington DC close up head and hand

“What a glorious morning for our country.” -Samuel Adams

Lincoln Memorial Washington DC

“Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” -Harry Emerson Fosdick

peace among all nations washington DC

“Every generation has the obligation to free men’s minds for a look at new worlds…to look out from a higher plateau than the last generation.” -Ellison S. Onizuka

National World War Two Memorial Washington DC

“We live in a world that is lit by lightning. So much is changing and will change, but so much endures and transcends time.” -Ronald Reagan

Washington Monument reflected on Vietnam Memorial wall of names

“It is immigrants who brought to this land the skills of their hands and brains to make of it a beacon of opportunity and hope for all men.” -Herbert H. Lehman

Washington Monument Washignton DC

Happy Birthday to my dear Shawn – and to the United States. 

Where in the World?

Photography & text © Tricia A. Mitchell. All rights reserved.

Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar

About the author

Hi! My name is Tricia Mitchell. I delight in telling stories about my slow travels through more than 65 countries. Some of my highlights have included sharing meals with locals in Armenia, Cambodia, and Tunisia; sipping sparkling wine with French cousins in Alsace; milking goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village; and training with a Japanese mine-clearance team in Laos. My husband, Shawn, and I are based in France’s Loire Valley.

Share This Entry:

Join the conversation.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

22 responses to “Happy Independence Day (& Birthday Greetings for a Special Someone)”

  1. Rachael Avatar
    Rachael

    Perfect way to commemorate the day.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Thank you, Rachael! Here’s hoping our road trip will lead us to a spot with fireworks tonight. :)

      Reply
  2. marinachetner Avatar
    marinachetner

    Happy birthday to your husband! have a lovely time celebrating, wherever you are!

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Thank you, Marina! Well, I think we’ll be somewhere in Nebraska. We’d hoped to make it as far west as Mt. Rushmore, but when we heard the fireworks show was cancelled this year, we decided to go to Canada. How will you celebrate in the Big Apple?

      Reply
      1. marinachetner Avatar
        marinachetner

        have you been to Mt Rushmore before? We’ll be staring at fireworks today. remember my photos of the tiny firework captures in NYE? I hope I’ll be closer this time! Happy July 4!

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        My parents took me on a grand western trip when I was in 2nd grade, so we saw Mt. R, Crazy Horse, Devil’s Tower, Yellowstone and the Corn Palace… But, seeing Mt. R. with fireworks overhead tonight would’ve been very special.

        Yes, I remember those images from New Year’s. Fingers crossed that you’ll find a prime viewing spot this holiday, Marina. And, here’s hoping there will be fireworks in Omaha tonight! On a side note, I will email back soon. :)

      3. marinachetner Avatar
        marinachetner

        I am sure wherever you are, July 4 will be fantastic! We’re debating whether to go into the city to see the fireworks as they are on the West Side instead of downtown, like I thought. I was so excited to get to Red Hook and take some snaps. So we may head to our rooftop and enjoy margaritas with our neighbours. Re: email – whenever you have time!

      4. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        So, how were they? I see you enjoyed some rooftops toasts under a pre-firework sky, but I’ll look forward to seeing some of your snaps of the big event.

        We were literally on the road as much of Nebraska’s and Iowa’s skies were aglow with fireworks. It was a unique and quite pretty perspective from the interstate. Today, off to Colorado!

  3. Madhu Avatar
    Madhu

    Happy independence day Tricia. And birthday wishes to your Shawn too :-)

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Thank you, Madhu, for both sets of greetings! I’ll pass along the wishes to my husband. :)

      Reply
  4. travelerlynne Avatar
    travelerlynne

    This is a fitting Independence Day tribute. Safe travels to both of you as you continue your road trip.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Thoughtful wishes, Lynne – thank you!

      Here’s hoping your week is going well. Though the temperatures and humidity in the Midwest are starting to feel tropical, I miss being among the palm trees, savoring the colorful fruits. Enjoy!

      Reply
  5. 2 Rivers Photos Avatar
    2 Rivers Photos

    The shot of the 2 people staring at the wall is really great… Happy 4th of July :)

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Bashar, thank you. DC is such a photogenic place – have you had the opportunity make it there yet?

      Here’s hoping you enjoyed your holiday! We viewed a panorama of fireworks from the Great Plains, while driving on the interstate near Omaha, Nebraska. I wish we could’ve enjoyed a picnic under a sky of fireworks, but it was still beautiful.

      Reply
      1. 2 Rivers Photos Avatar
        2 Rivers Photos

        I’ve been to DC as a child with my parents… way before my photography obsession started :)

      2. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        An excuse to return then. :)

      3. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
        Tricia A. Mitchell

        Certainly, another excuse to return there so you can capture it on film!
        Is there a particular place that sparked your intense interest in photography?

      4. 2 Rivers Photos Avatar
        2 Rivers Photos

        I just started to travel a lot for business, some places were quite unique and when I came back home I wanted to show everyone the pics and I was like this is not what it looked like. It all started from that… now I hardly travel but my camera is almost always with me :)

  6. Victor Ho Avatar
    Victor Ho

    May I add happy birthday wishes as well.

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      I shall pass them along to Shawn – thank you, Victor!

      Reply
  7. rigmover Avatar
    rigmover

    Cool photo’s

    Reply
    1. Tricia A. Mitchell Avatar
      Tricia A. Mitchell

      Many thanks, Mark. The pictures are all from an earlier, autumn trip to Washington, D.C.

      Reply