This past weekend Karl and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary by spending a Saturday in the historic district of Philadelphia (we’re both history buffs). It was a sunny and beautiful high 70’s all weekend, much like the weather we had 5 years ago for our wedding day. :)
First stop: The National Constitution Center
They didn’t allow for cameras inside, but I still sneaked a few with my phone. (breakin’ the law, breakin’ the law…‘)
Next was the Liberty Bell. After griping about no longer being able to actually touch the bell, we did the tourist deal and stood next to it for a pic like everyone else.
Since we had an hour to kill before our tour of Independence Hall, we went and relaxed in the lovely Washington Square park. While there we saw a pair of newlyweds come in and have their pix taken. Sept 15th is indeed a nice day to get married. ;)
Independence Hall:
This is inside the very room where our founding fathers discussed and created the Constitution. The head table against the wall at the front was Washington’s. That chair is the original chair he sat in, which is amazing to think about. Though the men in this room met with the common goal of unifying the states, the gathered men would bicker and argue as they tried to come to agreement on issues of economy, rights, the function of government, judicial system, currency, and so much more. Things that we still debate to this day. Though there was much back and forth on concerns, the men also knew that if they did not come to an agreement, the fledgling nation that had only recently been freed of British rule would fall. They had to unite.
Benjamin Franklin would often find himself gazing at the sun on Washington’s chair, and wonder whether it was a setting or rising sun. At times when progress for compromise seemed to be at a standstill, it would appear to him as that of a setting sun. However, on the historic day when the men were signing the Constitution, Ben Franklin did the following:
“Whilst the last members were signing [the Constitution], Doctor
Franklin, looking towards the Presidents chair, at the back of which a
rising sun happened to be painted, observed to a few members near him,
that painters had found it difficult to distinguish in their art, a
rising, from a setting, sun. I have, said he, often and often, in the
course of the session, and the vicissitudes of my hopes and fears as to
its issue, looked at that behind the President, without being able to
tell whether it was rising or setting; but now at length, I have the
happiness to know, that it is a rising, and not a setting sun. ”
Really is quite humbling to know how close we came as a new nation to never even being, and how one document would change the future of many.
Sunday we went to Karl’s 10 year anniversary highschool class reunion. It was, and still is a small school, so we had the reunion in a local park. I was friends with more people in Karl’s class than my own when we were in highschool, so I was also looking forward to this. Heather brought a ton of photos for us to look through and laugh over. Oh how awkward highschool is….good memories though, not to mention it’s where Karl and I met. :)
It was fun getting to catch up with friends and meet their babies/munchkins. One particular baby girl made the cutest pout whenever she would start crying. I don’t say “cute” lightly when it comes to babies, so you know it must have been darling.
To round things off, we also received some surprising news that was an
answer to prayer on Sunday. But that news will have to wait until the
next post. ;)
It was such a nice weekend, and Karl and I truly can’t believe how five years have flown by. I am so grateful for my loving, funny, and supportive Karl. We share countless inside jokes, have awesome talks and debates about anything from the technology of ancient civilizations to whether the “x” and “o” means kisses and hugs, or hugs and kisses (for the record, I say x = kiss, o= hug). I look forward to many many many more years to come with my “trophy husband”, the one and only Karl. ;)
TTFN!
