“What a glorious morning for our country.” -Samuel Adams
“Democracy is based upon the conviction that there are extraordinary possibilities in ordinary people.” -Harry Emerson Fosdick
“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
“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
“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
Happy Birthday to my dear Shawn – and to the United States.
Tricia A. Mitchell is a freelance writer and photographer. Born in Europe but raised in the United States, she has lived in Valletta, Malta; Heidelberg, Germany; and Split, Croatia. An avid globetrotter who has visited more than 65 countries, she has a penchant for off-season travel. Tricia has learned that travel’s greatest gift is not sightseeing, rather it is the interactions with people. Some of her most memorable experiences have been sharing a bottle of champagne with distant French cousins in Lorraine, learning how to milk goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village, and ringing in the Vietnamese New Year with a Hanoi family. She welcomes any opportunity to practice French and German, and she loves delving into a place’s history and artisanal food scene.
A former education administrator and training specialist, Tricia has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in international relations. She and her husband, Shawn, married in the ruins of a snowy German castle. They’ve been known to escape winter by basing themselves in coastal Croatia or Southeast Asia.
Her writing has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Frommer’s, and International Living.
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22 thoughts on “Happy Independence Day (& Birthday Greetings for a Special Someone)”
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?
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!
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. :)
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!
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!
Happy independence day Tricia. And birthday wishes to your Shawn too :-)
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!
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.
I’ve been to DC as a child with my parents… way before my photography obsession started :)
An excuse to return then. :)
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?
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 :)
Travels With Tricia 
Perfect way to commemorate the day.
Thank you, Rachael! Here’s hoping our road trip will lead us to a spot with fireworks tonight. :)
Happy birthday to your husband! have a lovely time celebrating, wherever you are!
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?
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!
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. :)
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!
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!
Happy independence day Tricia. And birthday wishes to your Shawn too :-)
Thank you, Madhu, for both sets of greetings! I’ll pass along the wishes to my husband. :)
This is a fitting Independence Day tribute. Safe travels to both of you as you continue your road trip.
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!
The shot of the 2 people staring at the wall is really great… Happy 4th of July :)
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.
I’ve been to DC as a child with my parents… way before my photography obsession started :)
An excuse to return then. :)
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?
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 :)
May I add happy birthday wishes as well.
I shall pass them along to Shawn – thank you, Victor!
Cool photo’s
Many thanks, Mark. The pictures are all from an earlier, autumn trip to Washington, D.C.