POSTCARD FROM MEDFORD, NJ – THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2009

We’re feeling justifiably patriotic after been cleansed in the Philadelphia streets – the hotbed of the American Revolution!  Yes, rain, rain, rain, rain and more rain, usually when we are getting off the bus.  But it certainly has not dampened our spirits! 

Our Hockessin hosts were patiently waiting for us in the bus to arrive after having gotten stuck in some turnpike dead stop traffic, but without a hitch the goodbyes were said and we hit the road for a short drive into Philly.  Once at the transportation center where Jim could pull in, we got directions on where to pick up tickets, and hiked off in the rain for the visitor center, used the restrooms and then off to see that old cracked Liberty Bell.  One of our guides later posed the question to the kids: Do we think we’d even really care so much about the symbolism of the Liberty Bell if it hadn’t gotten cracked?  Hmmm….that’s a good one!  But it is definitely cracked – and all it is cracked up to be (sorry…..).

Choristers gathered around the Liberty Bell and sang out the Star Spangled Banner loud and clear to the delight of the other visitors there.  Yep, Proud to Be An American!

Back out in the rain, for a slippery hike over to Christ Church.  Chris Sarbacker still has her teeth and lip, in spite of me doing my best to knock them out with a backhanded hard WHACK to her mouth.  SORRY, Chris!!  These rubber flip flops NOT such a good idea on these slippery slate sidewalks!

Christ Church was truly a special visit.  The guide there filled us all with great stories of the significance of the building – it had been the tallest in the country for almost 75 years!  Benjamin Franklin had to sit in the back pews because he joined his wife’s church, and that’s where her family’s pews were located.  Poor Betsy Ross had to sit in obstructed view from behind the pillar.  The chandelier filled with wax candles is the original as is most of everything in this sacred building, and they still use it regularly!  It’s a working church!  The chaperones and the other visitors at Christ Church were treated to two selections from the choir in this beautiful and acoustically fantastic building.

After Christ Church, we hoofed it to Betsy Ross’ house where character actors and Betsy herself (she was busy sewing) greeted us.  We toured the small house and then onto the patio where the workers requested a performance – Star Spangled Banner and Roll, Jordan, Roll.  The heavens opened up with a huge downpour at that point and we high-tailed it to the bus where we deposited all our belongings and headed over to the Philadelphia Mint.  Now that was one pretty cool show!  We even got to see a new spool of coin metal getting fed into the blank maker for making quarters.  So fun to see the production line where they even have automated forklifts ala robot world driving around.  And just like at Great America, the escalator dropped us off at the GIFT SHOP!!  Kind of weird spending money to buy Mint souvenirs. 

Back to get our belongings and on those slippery sidewalks to the Christ Church Cemetery where amongst other VIPs from Colonial and Revolutionary America, Benjamin Franklin is buried.  Then to a portrait museum that has guards watching every move, and finally just about time for our ticketed time to visit Independence Hall.   Interesting tour guide with perspective and background on the happenings in 1776 and 1787 and next thing we know it, we’re in the actual room where both the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed as well as the U.S. Constitution!  We were invited to sing for the group, and in the stair hall, WCC sang Star Spangled Banner for a third time today – the acoustics were amazing and once again, goose bumps on our fellow visitors.  Even though tired and walked out, the kids really showed what troopers they are!

We hustled back to the bus and a quiet, calm and comfy ride to St Peter’s Episcopal in Medford.  How can we get so lucky and have these most fantastic people who have stepped up to help us and welcome us with such warm and open arms????  And a really neat thing about this is that each and every kid seems to understand how amazing this is!  Hooray! 

The women who had prepared our meal were so helpful and the nourishment we walked into was delicious!  Medford is yet one more city on our list of wonderful places to remember! 

And now, for the concert performance – what can I say?  Tired, sung-out kids came through BIG TIME and had a fantastic concert!  Our third formal, full concert in the same number of days….this on top of miles and miles and hours and hours on the bus, and a day full of on-the-spot singing and soaked in the rains.  Great kids, no doubt!

Whisked off once again to our welcoming hosts and their homes (and yes, it was raining again!).  Just picture rolling hills, and lush GREEN countryside in this Garden State!

One unbelievable fact:  NO MOVIES TODAY!! 

An added fact:  We have had our own personal friends or family join us on every stop:  Laurel and Kendra, Mary Marvin, Maddy McGuffin in Toledo; Salzkowskis and Maddy McGuffin again in Hockessin, and tonight in Medford we had personal fans of Margaret, Colleen, and Szalkowski s!  How can we ask for an even better fan base than that????

Til next time,

Sue