Andy and Sara came and spent their 1 year anniversary in NYC over the 4th. We had a good visit, though I had to work and didn’t get to spend the whole time with them.

While they were here we went to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. It was actually the first time we’d been, and I loved it. We went on the 4th and it was a nice way to celebrate the day. Most people know that I’m not one for great patriotic displays normally, not because I don’t love our country or anything, but that’s just me. I was the same way with school spirit. But I actually felt really American being at Ellis Island. The Statue was neat,but there were lines to get in. And it was a slow day, so they were much better lines than they could have been!

What I enjoyed so much about the day was putting myself in someone else’s shoes. Imagining spending all that time on a boat to get here. You’ve left everything behind, you’ve had very little food. And then you get here, and you see that great symbol of America. Of freedom. But when you get here there is still so much hardship to over come. Health inspections, mental inspections, intelligence tests. They wanted to make sure they didn’t admitt anyone who would wind up being a burden to society. Families got separated. People got sent home. Others died in the hospital wing waiting to get healthy enough to leave. I had a vague sense of all this before going, but looking at the pictures and reading the stories was really an eye opener.

Finally got the pictures done. I had a little too much fun with my mac and made them into a movie!: Click Here