On the road!

Hello all! I am so excited to be writing, and I hope that I figure out how to post my messages without messing anything up over the next couple of weeks. Please bear with me.

I left from my parents' home in Connecticut this morning and headed to my first stop in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania - the home of George Washington and his troops during a long winter during the Revolutionary War. It was amazing! I visited Gettysburg a few weeks ago, on a separate trip. From my experience then and today, I must say that the National Park Service has done a fantastic job of maintaining America's historical parks. I walked Valley Forge for about two hours. I was able to visit the soldiers' huts, the artillery field lined with canons, the National Memorial Arch with a special monument dedicated to soldiers from Massachusetts (I hope to show pictures of that to my kids), and much more. My favorite moment, however, was after passing the soldiers' huts and coming upon a rise that overlooked a large, open field. The field was bare, except for the grass. But over two-hundred years ago, it was covered by snow and littered with tents and men waiting in the bitter cold to defend their freedom. The creation of that image in my head was striking and brought my feet to a halt. Even though I teach American history, I often go about my day either absorbed in the moment or, more often than not, already thinking far ahead into the future. I often forget to think about all of the people that came before me and the lives they lived. Today was a nice reminder to stop and appreciate that history. I hope to have more of those moments as the trip continues. It was quite sunny for most of the journey (I think I even got a little tan, yay!); the storm clouds broke just as I got into my car. Phew! Lastly, I wanted to say that I do have a camera with me. Unfortunately, however, I borrowed my little sister's (Thank you, Amy.) and did not think to bring the corresponding computer cable. Therefore, I will not be able to post any visuals until after I return. SAD. Well, that's all for tonight folks. See you in Manassas tomorrow! xox