Home at last! I have skipped the fireworks on the Fourth for the past few years due to rain or it being too hot and security on the Mall being a major hindrance to just wandering down and hanging out. This year a friend was invited to a party on a boat in the Potomac, so I went. It was an unusually pleasant evening for July in Washington.

Last night I forgot to mention my "America" moment. Riding the shuttle bus with me from the airport to the hotel was a hispanic family and they were speaking in Spanish, talking loudly and laughing heartily and I thought it sounded so "American." I was glad to be home. Thank you to everyone who hosted me, showed me around England, fed me (Linda, especially on this, her vegetarian meals were filling and tasty even for a carnivore like me) and put up with me.