Fireworks

Why are those beautiful exploding colors in the sky so wonderful to watch? Since I was a small child I've been mesmerized by the beauty of firework shows. Of course, growing up in the 70's I enjoyed all the fireworks; Black Cats, any kind of bottle rockets, Roman Candles, Lady Fingers, M-80's and the coveted Cherry Bomb!

All these exploding products brought me so much pleasure, but it was the official Fourth of July firework celebration that topped my list of explosion activities. Blowing up beaver dams with dynamite may be a close second, but that'a another story for another day.

Because it was July it was always hot and often humid down here in the South, and it coincided with watermelon season. For me, the firework show and watermelon went hand-in-hand. Ice cream cones would often accompany the spectacular event as well. We would throw the frisbee and football with other kids as we waited for dusk to give way to the starry backdrop that would soon showcase the brilliant display of the exploding fireworks. At larger venues there might even be live music playing cover songs of our favorite bands and patriotic tunes which just added to the fun summer vibe. Large crowds would assemble across an open space as folks set up chairs, spread blankets across the ground and set up their little picnic spot with food and drinks. It was a very festive time that is forever etched in my mind.

As the sky turned black, I waited in anticipation for that first BOOM which signaled the beginning of the firework show that would captivate me as I stared into the dark sky. I quickly learned to distinguish the various sounds of the cannons during the launch which would result in smaller, or larger booms. My dad liked the "big boomers" as he described them. You see, I inherited my love for all things gunpowder from my dad. As a teen, he had actually blown up my grandfathers barn while making his own fireworks. He wasn't injured, but the incident made the local newspaper with a headline that read, "Mystery Blast Rocks Eastlake". Like my dad, the bigger the explosion the better. Okay, back to the fireworks show. Once in a while the wind would be in our favor and the gunpowder smoke from the cannons would drift our way. Most would say that it smelled like rotten eggs, but I thought it smelled like fun. On and on, the arial explosions would continue with a variety of colors, shapes and sizes lighting the night sky until there would be a slight pause in the action. The pause was a sign that the "grand finale" was soon to begin. The grand finale was the pinnacle of the fireworks show with hundreds of fireworks lighting the sky at one time. It was a sight to behold for sure as the last ember flamed out leaving only a cloud of smoke hanging in the air. I always wanted there to be more. Sometimes a slow fuse cannon would ignite and send a single firework into the sky. It was late and seemed puny after having just watched the spectacular grand finale. It was time to pack the car and head to the house. Another Fourth of July celebration in the books.

Year after year this was how my family enjoyed our Fourth of July afternoons. It's a USA tradition that's been going on for decades, and I continued that tradition with my own children who seemed to like it almost as much as I did. Times are changing and strict ordinances and laws along with rising costs of fireworks and venues make it more difficult to host these fun celebrations that use to take place in every small town across this nation. There are also competing activities that draw folks away from attending these firework shows. And finally, as sad as it is to admit, patriotism in this nation just isn't as strong as it once was. I'm not confident that the Fourth of July firework celebrations are going to continue to be an event in this nation for very much longer, so if you have the opportunity to attend one them I encourage you to make it happen.

There was this one year that my elderly mom asked to attend the firework show. She was physically weak and in her last year of life, but she wanted to watch the fireworks one more time. My sister sat with her in a parking lot as she starred into the sky at those beautiful arial displays and ate an ice cream cone. I had to leave them to hang with my wife and kids who were front and center in the middle of the mob assembled in an open field. Still, I remember thinking as I watched my mom set herself up to see the fireworks one last time that these are the moments that make up our lives. For my mom, eighty years of fireworks gifted her fond memories of the places and people who shared patriotism, the festivities and the beautiful explosions that made such amazing art in the sky. I encourage you to put down the smart phones and find a place to enjoy some good food and beverages, hang with friends and take in some fireworks. It's truly a memorable chill event.