BOOM, BOOM, twinkle, twinkle....

A Magical Night….

There is not much that can match a professional fireworks display.  They are beautiful, intense, loud and every year there seem to be new and delightful effects that happen in the sky.

I also hate crowds.  I do not like being bumped and jostled.  I do not like standing in a queue for food or a ride or whatever the event might require.

Generally fireworks and crowds go hand-in-hand, so I generally do not get to see them up close and personal.

That changed last night………..

My hometown has a fair in the local park the week of the 4^th of July.  I have been in the area over 30 years and for as long as I can remember, the fair has been that week.  The Friday night of the fair is Fireworks night and as the years have passed the display put on has gotten bigger and better.  Over the years I am reminded of the fact that the fireworks were going off when I heard the loud booms during and at the end of the display.  For close to 20 years, I was out of town at campgrounds where my late husband and I rested and relaxed on weekends and vacations, so it did not matter.  But I sold the place that was our last weekend retreat so I found myself at home last night.

Those of you who have been reading this blog know that I have been going to a local Mennonite Church over the last year or so.  The building is just as you drive into the town.  Last Sunday they reminded the members that the church would be opening up the building as well as cooking hotdogs and serving drinks to members and anyone else who might enjoy one.  Seems as though the position of the church is one of the best areas to view the fireworks that are set off in the park that is not but a couple of blocks away.

I had been cleaning the bedroom, sorting through more ‘stuff’ from the house I sold and beginning the task of packing clothing and things for the trip I embark on in a week.  I remembered from time to time that the fireworks were happening but by the time I should be leaving I was tired and still had mounds of clothing and suitcases all over my bed.  Finally I said to myself….”self, get in your car and go see what is happening and take a break!”.  So, I headed to town!

I arrived around 8:00 PM.  There were already town folk with chairs and blankets lining up on the grassy area in front of the parking lot of the church.  I parked my van on the upper level and walked over to where the Pastor and his family were enjoying hotdogs with their grandchildren.  I watched the young children run around, playing and laughing.  I enjoyed a hot dog.  And as darkness began to fall, booms and bright flashes began all around us.  Other areas began their displays.  Finally a LOUD BOOM and a very bright flash, almost directly overhead, announced the beginning of the display we had come to see.

The colors were bright, they twinkled, cascaded and exploded.  There were red, white and blue…. Green, silver, gold, purple…. A rainbow with every explosion.  Some of the sounds were whoosh, whistle and pop.  Some were intense BOOMS.  But it was spectacular.  Some of the time it would be one or two going off, some of the time it would be four or five.  At the end it was one after another after another after another.  It was beautiful.  I had a small quilt on the ground and actually laid out almost prone so I did not have to crane my neck to view the display.  And they really seemed to be just overhead.  It was as close as I have ever been to a fireworks display.  I loved it.

So, Happy Birthday America!  Thanks for the special holiday where these wonderful displays are expected.  I know where I will be next year, if I find myself at home!  It was amazing.