Little Women's Little Woman

Somethings you never expect to happen: salt ditching pepper for cumin or macaroni going stag for a night on the town while cheese molds away in heartbreak. So when The Twins' sibling rivalry blew up into an unusual heated argument, The Under Twin took off and the day turned gray. They have never been apart, so The Upper Twin was completely full of woe. The girls brainstormed and came up with something to cheer up their Upper Twin:

a visit to Louisa May Alcott's home to be Little Women!

Did you know the book was written and set in the Alcott's home? Did you know the Alcott's named their home Orchard House? Have you ever been so excited about something that you've had an accident? That's okay. Accidents happen.

Sophia always imagined herself as Margaret "Meg" March—the oldest, the most beautiful and governess-employed sister. Spending time in front of the mirror/window seemed something very Meg AND very Elizabeth Taylor.

The artistic, youngest and "regular snow-maiden" Amy was Yvette's muse. Sometimes spoiled and somewhat vain, Yvette could sympathize with Amy's disposition and her choice in men. "The last IS the best of all the gang—she gets Laurie!" Yvette shouted, imagining jumping from the roof into Laurie's arms (the Christian Bale version of Laurie, of course).

Penny liked Josephine because "Jo" was like the author, Louisa. As Penny raced up the roof to do her beak-stand, she quoted Louisa: "No boy could be my friend till I had beaten him in a race and no girl if she refused to climb trees, leap fences..."

The Upper Twin connected with the scarlet fever stricken Elizabeth "Beth" March. Being apart from her twin felt like a dark shadow was looming over her. She felt very little, very small and wondered if she would ever be considered beautiful and not just cute.

When they met up, The Upper Twin told the others that she was going to do the "bigger" thing and be the first to apologize to her sibling. After all, it was her brother that always carried her on his back and it was her brother who always made her feel taller than she really was.

Penny Purple Planning

Penny isn't a pouter. But for some reason, after the big winter holidays and all the gatherings, she found herself feeling ultraviolet because she's the only purple member of the Troop. The reds have taken in Edward, Yvette has forced herself in with the yellows and of course, Black Jack and The Twins revel in being achromatic. She didn't want to feel blue, so she did what she did best: she made plans for an adventure.

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES ARE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PLAN AN ADVENTURE. PENNY CALLS THIS "PURPLE PLANNING."

POINT NO. 1: PULL OUT A MAP

All "serious" adventures require a map. Find one in your grandpa's study, a local Maverick gas station, your city library, under the seat of your mom's car or on the internet. Become familiar with the names of streets and rivers. Determine a point of interest. Did you know Boston's nickname is "Beantown?" Did you know map-makers are called cartographers? 

POINT NO. 2: FIND A TOUR GUIDE

Who says you have to pay for a tour guide? If possible, find a friend that knows the area and can show you the best places to visit. If you don't have a friend there, make one. Ask for some pointers! Make sure to keep your traveler's guidebook (Rick Steve's, Frommer's, Lonely Planet) handy and thank the tour guide with dinner, a hi-5, and a commitment to help the next stranger in your neighborhood.

POINT NO. 3: TAKE THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

You will remember your adventure better if you do what Robert Frost suggests: "take the [road] less traveled by." Duck down an alley or street or place NOT listed in your guidebook. Get lost finding it. Make your way back to the road "more" traveled. Getting lost helps you remember.

POINT NO. 4: EAT LOCAL WITH THE LOCALS

Enjoying great food is one of the best parts of an adventure. Ask local folks the best places to eat and where you can find the best "local" dish. Do yourself a favor and stay away from flavors you are used to. Make sure to treat yourself to at least one delicious meal. Did you know Boston is known for their baked beans?

POINT NO. 5: SEIZE THE DAY

You don't have to do the Newsies dance to seize the day. Take time in this new place you've found. Explore the details. Document it by shooting photographs of your favorite things and writing about it. Don't rush the day. Choose 2 or 3 things to enjoy that day and call it good!

POINT NO. 6: SEE THE LIGHTS

Make sure to spend time "seeing the lights." Enjoy the night life because it is usually when the city comes to life! Find a café. Listen to live music. See a dance performance. Stop to enjoy a street performer and make sure to leave them a tip—it's good karma, but it also supports their incredible talents.

POINT NO. 7: GET SWEATY

Try exercising in a different way than you're used to while you're on your adventure. Walk to the bridge and back. Run the fire escape. Take a yoga class in the park. Swim across a river. Paddle a kayak in a pond. Break up your routine by creating a new sweat-body memory.

POINT NO. 9: BE OF GOOD CHEER(S)

Adventures are adventures because things don't always work as they are planned. Be flexible. Relax. Laugh about the unexpected things. Enjoy the people you meet because next time you visit, you'll be in a place where everybody knows your name!

J. T. Time with T. J.

Magnus and Yvette were in cahoots planning a trip between two bookend holidays in July: Independence Day and Bastille Day. Magnus wanted to recite the Declaration of Independence in an all-American place, but Yvette wanted something with a French flair. They put their minds together, roped in some recruits and stormed The Jefferson Memorial !

Yvette and Edward took 14 minutes (for le quatorze juillet) discussing the Ionic columns. "Surely they wouldn't be as great without the egg-and-dart ornamentals," Yvette mused. "Perhaps," paused Edward, "but I still prefer Corinthian." A wide-eyed Silus shook his head and mumbled something about being imprisoned.

Roman and Magnus were struck by its similarities to The Pantheon and The Rotunda. Penny found a precarious place and thought about the balance between independence and freedom.

Yvette swoons for T. J. because he was a minister to France; Penny has a weakness for polymaths, in general.

Caught in the coffers above T. J., the boys thought about "tyranny over the mind of man."

Did you know that T. J. is considered the author of The Declaration of Independence?

Did you know that T. J. was governor of Virginia, U.S. minister to France, Secretary of State (under Washington), Vice President (under Adams), and President of the United States? Did you know he was also the Father of The University of Virginia ? Did you know T. J. was a botanist, an architect, and started the Library of Congress with his own collection of books?

The colonnade was perfect for Huckle Buckle Beanstalk and rounds of Frère Jacques.

Magnus thought it would be better to hear The Declaration of Independence recited by its author than by him. The others agreed. So, T. J. recited the entire thing, right there in the memorial. Of course, Magnus mouthed the entire thing – just to prove a point.

Roman and Edward tried identifying the typeface used on the wall panels throughout the memorial. Do you know what it is?

To avoid another world war, the girls took their squabbling — about who T. J. liked more — outdoors. They conceded to share liking privileges, which granted them each cooing rights whenever they visited. T. J. approved of their resolution method: good debate and discussion backed with reason.

As the Troop made its final rounds around the memorial, they felt T. J.'s firework-phrasing sink in. Maybe it was an unseen jet stream or maybe it was the timely, echoing words, but the flight home seemed less strenuous and more like a pursuit of happiness.