Firework No Nos
As usual, I’m backlogged in my blogging… trapped in that I’ve-got-to-caption-all-these-photos-and-then-write-about-them-before-I -post-anything-new cycle of death. But I’m breaking out for a minute to throw out my $.02 on the big national holiday nearly upon us. More importantly regarding the fireworks displays that always happen. I grew up in a small town where the 4th of July is the biggest thing that happens all year. For a town of 500 people, its a really big thing. In some ways, its bigger than Christmas or Thanksgiving when it comes to my family, as many members of both sides of my family (which to me means my maternal grandfather and maternal grandmother’s families) come back to Bussey for the morning parade and some lunch. Assorted friends drop in and out. Its hard to explain. If I know you, I’ve probably invited you to the 4th at my house there several times. Take me up on it sometime.
Anyway… the 4th is great, but there is one thing that drives me nuts since I’ve moved away and am rarely at home for the evening: fireworks.
Now I sound like I’m 75 years old when I say this, but if I can’t sit on a porch and watch the fireworks from my house, I don’t want to see them. Its bizarre to me to see people driving and parking and then fighting the traffic to get home to watch fireworks. I just don’t get it. I went to the Coralville fireworks once with friends and even with KatieU’s fantastic cookies and other munchables, it felt wrong. However, I did once spend the evening of the 4th at a friend’s house in the country outside of Newton. That was acceptable because you could sit on their deck and see the displays from several towns around.
Also wrong: fireworks on the 3rd or 5th of July and fireworks broadcast on television, especially if broadcast with music (double no if they trot out ‘The 1812 Overture’)
(oh, and don’t go blowing your hands off with things you bought in Missouri or Wisconsin… buying explosives from people who generally appear to be either: a) 12-years old or b) dropped out of school when they were 12, isn’t really the most brilliant thing to do)
