A New England Yankee in Holyrood Park (July 4th in the UK)

It's been quite awhile since I posted about our time in the UK. I had intended to go in chronological order but find myself veering a bit off course today by sharing a few pictures of our July 4th.

I'm not sure whether celebrating your own traditional holidays in a land where those holidays aren't celebrated makes things more or less meaningful. I suppose it's a bit of both. Christmas in Taiwan and the 4th in the UK both lacked the grandeur of celebrations in the US. However, torn from that grandeur we see year after year and even grow weary of, it was easier to appreciate the substance of the day.

In the long run, I suppose living internationally has helped me value my own heritage more while also valuing and understanding other heritages. I think, too, that the simplicity of our current celebrations will help me appreciate the grandeur of future holidays back in the states. I've boiled own to the substance of things and can now value the celebrations that ensue.

As a side note, it's a bit funny celebrating your independence in the land from which you gained independence. But I took comfort in knowing that Scotland (where we were at the time) has its own history of rebellion against England.

Anyway, without further rambling, here's our July 4th in Holyrood Park, complete with hamburgers and an apple pie (which just happened to be on sale!).