Our small New Hampshire town of Nottingham (tucked between the Seacoast and Concord, the capital) has one of the nicest small town Independence Day celebrations I've ever experienced.

We gather at Demmon's Old Country Store on Rte. 152 at 7 a.m. for a free breakfast (eggs & homefries on the grill, red white & blue berry cup, etc.), then sit around and play music and sing from 8 to 9 a.m. Then, traditionally, David Behm would read the Declaration of Independence (the whole thing) from the store's porch. Alas, David passed away a year and a half ago. Last year, as a memorial to him, we used a recording of him reading the Declaration. This year, I understand, someone else will read it.

Fairly often a local piper plays a tune or two from the hill across the road, and friends from Massachusetts arrive in their 1954 MG-TF (or other piece of Brit iron) to be "representatives of the Crown".

Then we all traipse off to a local party. And this year, because it's a Friday, most of the party will then head to Portsmouth for the Press Room session at 4 p.m.

Because of Tom's work schedule the past couple weeks, we'll probably go home before the party for a nap!

Linn