Dear France,

I'm sorry, I spaced. I thought that today was the 14th- Bastille Day. I got you a card and everything. I would have given it to you yesterday, really, but I'm just bad with keeping track of what day it is.

But I'd like to thank you. Thank you for de Grasse, Rochambeau and your other contributions to the American struggle for independence. Thank you for de Tocqueville, who helped us define ourselves. Thank you for the Statue of Liberty. Thank you for your style of kissing and of frying potatoes. Thank you for your cinema. Thank you for Platini, Cantona and Zidane. Thank you for Dutronc, Gainsbourg, Hardy and Air. Thanks for being France.