Yes, today’s the day…“Happy Birthday, to all of us!”. At our Asheville bed and breakfast, we have the flag out, the bunting out on the porch rails and even had sparklers at breakfast today! We, the ones fortunate enough to have come here or to have been born here in America, are celebrating across the country. Even when times are difficult, and they certainly are now for a great many American families, in the past as well as today, our country represents freedom and opportunity. And sharing.

During the depths of the Great Depression, the family who owned the home that is now Abbington Green Bed & Breakfast Inn here in Asheville, also shared its good fortune. Mr. Peyton was made Postmaster of Asheville in 1933, when times in America were very hard, indeed. It was good job. A steady job. A government job. And the family has told me that Mrs. Peyton put a table on the back porch of the house and would offer lunch every day to anyone who showed up.

Now and then, I like to remember just how lucky we are. On this 4th of July, I quote Wendell L. Willkie, unsuccessful GOP nominee for President in 1940 and a successful business person. All politics aside, it’s good for us to keep some inspiration in our pockets for a “rainy day”. Mr. Willkie said, simply: “I believe in America because we have great dreams and because we have the opportunity to make those dreams come true.”

Our Asheville bed and breakfast wishes you and yours a special “Happy Birthday, America!”