This seems like a funny post, especially to be posting about four months after the fact. But we were up in Utah over the 4th of July and apparently the bajillion year old ban was lifted for the 4th and the use of "wicked" fireworks were once again allowed in the Holy Land. And boy did people celebrate. When I was growing up you were really lucky if someone made the trip to Evanston, Wyoming to buy the illegal fireworks and set off a few random ones in between your black growing snakes and sparklers.
Since those days I have witnessed quite a few spectacular fireworks shows and to be fair, they weren't all on the 4th.
I was in Washington DC for the Inauguration of President Clinton, (first time) and that firework show was one of the most awesome...it seemed to be in line with the type of fireworks that took place in the Oval Office during his term, but I preferred these fireworks to those. Unless those fireworks could've resulted in impeachment, but I digress. And unlike warm, balmy July weather, it was January in DC and it was freezing!
One year I lived in downtown Salt Lake in a high rise condo. On the roof was a pool and large patio area. That summer I had some friends over and watched the fireworks throughout the valley and on the 24th had a front row seat to the U of U stadium fireworks show.
A few years ago we went to Lake Powell up to Crystal Springs. We anchored in this big cove...big enough for two large houseboats. To our surprise the houseboat across the way did a firework show complete with music...that went on and on. The neat thing about being in the cove was the blast of sound that echoed with every pop of a firework. And dare I say they let off a few of the big "illegal" ones. There was nothing like being on top of your houseboat with the whole family to watch this fireworks spectacular.
Let's not forget the year I was in Vegas for the 4th...those hotels are nuts when it comes to fireworks...they light them off for just about anything there. Grand openings, demolitions, so why would holidays be any different? I can't remember much except dying of heat...that year it was 110 degrees at 10:00 PM! Little did I know at that point in my life that it would one day be my reality every summer.
The year before last, we were alone as a family here in AZ...we somehow managed to go straight from one fireworks show and drive down the street to another one. It's usually about 100 degrees at 9:00 in July so the kids had been doing water activities up until it got dark...so they were still in their swim suits. We pulled off into a parking lot that offered a great view of show #2 and the kids had the glory of climbing on the roof, the hood, the trunk and out the windows of the car. The laziness of the 4th and excitement of the kids (mainly due to this new car exploration and no so much the fireworks) made this 4th especially memorable. Hug and I sat in the front seat while squishy little bottoms graced the front window...
July 4th, 2011 was a site to behold. I was driving in between my Sister's house in one end of the Valley out to my Brother-in-law's house on the exact opposite side. We spent the night of the 4th out in the West Valley in a cul-de-sac that was home to something like 30 children. The parents had planned a fireworks show-down. It was funny and fun to watch. All the way home that night as I made my way back to my sister's the sky lit up with fireworks in every single direction. Some right above our heads all the while the windows were rolled down enjoying the cool summer night air that you totally miss being in AZ... I love the 4th. I don't know that it ever dawned on me before this last July, but I love being with family even if it's just my own little family of 5 but it's always great to share with everyone. I've never thought of myself as loving fireworks shows, but I guess that's the other common thread here. I am a firework lover. As long as I am not the lighter, and that the lighter's have protective eye-ware on, and I'm not forced to hold any sparklers... well, one usually doesn't hurt. I like to walk on the wild side sometimes.
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