Small-town 4th of July

Prophetstown is a little town in the middle of Illinois, surrounded on all sides by cornfields and sky. Main Street is a few blocks long. Men drive pick-ups and look like they just came back from a hunting trip or are on their way to one. Kids have buzz cuts. Soda is called "pop."

Jen grew up here, and we're here to visit her family, set off a few firecrackers, and get our annual refresher course on how the Upper West Side differs from other parts of America.

And to celebrate, this and every July 4th, the values we all have in common and that we all hope to pass on to our children and our children's children.

So here's to Prophetstown. And, well, God bless America.