I love being American. My favorite part of a baseball game? Hearing and singing our national anthem. I get excited when, as an adult, a chance arises to say the Pledge of Allegiance, and I’ve spent an inordinate amount of time researching our country’s history — both in school and long after. I love talking about our founding fathers (and mothers), and learning more about how the United States came to be is a frequent topic of conversation ’round these parts.

We bandy about words like “freedom,” “independence,” “opportunity” . . . and I’m as guilty of anyone for taking those concepts for granted. For taking our nation for granted. But though we’re just a newborn in the grand history of civilization, we are a proud and mighty group — and I hope to never forget how fortunate I am to have been born in a place where “hope” is a real, tangible thing.

I’m not sure if I’ll make it to any fireworks displays tonight (the traffic! the mosquitoes! the humidity!), but we are planning a trip to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate, for some festivities and fun. Seems like an appropriately patriotic activity on such a festive day!

Happy 237th birthday, America!