A Snoopy Pin

The sum total of what I remember about the bicentennial

Hey friends,

This week our country is celebrating its 250th birthday and — as the saying goes — I’m old enough to remember the last big one.

I was 6 years old in 1976. My family was living in a suburb of Philadelphia. And I actually do remember a little bit of it.

Sort of.

What I remember is bits and pieces of a day my mom, dad, brother, and I went to see the Liberty Bell. Maybe Independence Hall too. I’m sure we did other things. None of those memories stuck.

Here’s what did: a Liberty Bell pin with Snoopy sleeping on top of it. I remember wearing it and LOVING it.

That’s it. That’s the sum total of what I remember of the bicentennial.

Oh — and our mimosa tree. We had a pink mimosa tree in the front yard that was, and still is, my favorite climbing tree. Every spring the flowers bloomed and they looked like little dandelion puffs. That’s why I called it the pink puffy tree.

Snoopy pin. Pink puffy tree. That’s 1976 for me.

Why am I sharing this silly little anecdote? Because nobody knows what’s going to stick. Not you, not me, not the kids you’re about to drag to a fireworks show this weekend.

So don’t overthink it. Show up. Let whatever sticks, stick.

Happy 250th, y’all.

xx, Heather