John Adams - The House


I've been reading good things about the new HBO John Adams mini-series. Unfortunately, I'm one of the last few people in the country without cable, so I have to wait until the series comes out on DVD before I can see it. Hopefully it will be soon! I had cable before, but I cancelled it. That's a whole other post entirely.

Living in Massachusetts, and in Quincy to be exact, I was really excited to hear about the series. When you live somewhere that's a tourist attraction, you tend to not visit the place, because it's always there. Or at least, we assume it will always be there. On an unseasonably warm day this past fall, I visited the Adams home, which is located just minutes from where I live. I did the full tour, took a bunch of pictures and really enjoyed myself. Because of security issues since September 11th, we were only allowed to take pictures outside.


John and Abigail Adams exchanged many letters that have been preserved as part of the historical record and were used in making the movie. The US Postal Service has partnered with HBO in promoting the power of the letter.

I'm a big letter writer myself and think it's a wonderful idea. I mentioned this postcard swap that I participated in recently. There's nothing nicer than seeing a real letter or card tucked in between the junk mail and bills. Maybe you might like to write a nice note to someone on one of these cards?



If any of you are watching the series, what do you think?

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Comments

Cakespy said…
I don't have HBO either but it sounds right up my alley. A lot of my relatives live in Massachusetts so we used to always visit in the summer and do historical stuff--Mystic Seaport, Plymouth Rock, etc--so I would love to visit the Adams home.
Hi, Anali! How are you doing? I haven't seen the series either - I have basic cable, which is almost like having no cable at all, because we like to watch PBS. I'll add it to my Netflix queue, let's hope we won't have to wait too long. :)

Take care.
Bertie said…
I do have HBO, but have not had a chance to watch it- but it has been saved on DVR- so hopefully my hubby and I will get around to it pretty quick! I'll let you know what I think. The tour looks beautiful:) How fun!
Babz Rawls Ivy said…
I have satellite TV with HBO, but no I ahven't watched it. The good thing is that HBO will rerun it. I should have TIVO'd it. I will check and see when they start it again.

I too am a big letter writer. It is almost a forgotten art form. My Grandmother would travel with a stationary box with fine paper and pens, stamps, note cards etc and she would write folks all over the world. I was so impressed by this, that I created my own stationary box with fine paper, pens, etc.

So let this year be the year you are a tourist in your own City!
Nance said…
Oh, Anali, I only have basic cable, so don't feel so forlorn! As far as the Adamses, I teach American Lit. and often the letters of Abigail are excerpted in our anthology. She was such an extraordinary woman, and the relationship the two of them shared was truly ahead of its time. I love her comments to him with regard to his including women when drafting the new government's constitution. She wisely told him that, if they chose not to, women would still find a way to get what they wanted anyway, just as they always have.
Suldog said…
Having grown up not too far from the place (Dorchester Lower Mills) I visited it when I was a kid, on a school tour. Always interesting to me, even at an early age, to see a place so alive with history.
Anonymous said…
I haven't heard of that series, but it sounds good. I'm just now discovering alias of all things. I love the series.
Lisa Johnson said…
cakespy - You know I've still never been to Mystic Seaport. I've been planning to go ever since I saw Mystic Pizza. Love that movie! I really have to go this summer! Those would be some pretty pictures too.... : )

fenix - Hey! Good to see you over here again! I love PBS too. I guess I'll have to add it to my Blockbuster queue too! ; )

bertie - That's even better to have it on DVR, so you can watch it when you want. It was kind of funny taking a tour of someplace so close to me, but there are so many things to see that I might as well take advantage. I still have to visit Walden Pond too!
Lisa Johnson said…
lovebabz - That's true that HBO will show it again. That was one of the things that shocked me when I had cable. So often there were repeats!

And I love love the idea of a stationary box that you bring with you! How elegant!

nance - Abigail sure was right! I often wonder what people from the past would say about us now. Imagine getting a chance to have lunch with them and talk about this election!

suldog - That's one of the things I love about living here. I really cherish that connection with the past.

serendipity - Welcome! I guess we'll both be renting the series!

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