Today is the start of our standard neighborhood tradition, the whistling and explosion of all levels of fireworks. I still do not understand the thought processes of our politicians who made these explosive devices legal to shoot off in small neighborhoods. By law, you have to be a certain distance from all nearby buildings when using fireworks, but it doesn't happen. Our houses are all quite close together, so when the booming starts, we're in a danger zone, whether we like it or not. We usually stay home, just to keep an eye on our roof, making sure no fires start. Our dog heads to the lowest part of the house and seeks shelter. So far, we've survived, but we don't appreciate our next door neighbor's huge display, with all the noise, and the parking mess on our street.
How can anyone even afford to send that much money "up in smoke?" These are the same people who complain about the rising cost of food, gas and other essentials, then fork over hundreds of dollars of hard-earned cash, for one (or sometimes several) nights of noisy mayhem. And do they put any effort into cleaning up their mess? Perhaps yes, in their own yard, but not in their neighbor's yards, all covered with plenty of fall-out. For weeks after "The Fourth," we are picking up debris everywhere in our yard, cardboard remnants, little plastic tubes, and whatever else they use in the construction of fireworks. It all seems senseless to me.
There are plenty of well-done, community, (and professional) fireworks set off in large fields, often over a big lake, with many other safety measures in place, and fire engines close-by, just in case. Couldn't we just go back to that plan? I can clearly remember the joy and excitement of driving to Lake Ann in Barberton, Ohio, every fourth of July, to watch the show, everyone "ewwing and awing" at the sight, as the white swans continued to pass by gracefully on the lake. I miss that!
The next few days of our local forecast are calling for rain, rain, and more rain. Rain might put a damper on things which would be a good thing in my estimation, but I'm afraid that what we'll end up with is an "extended" holiday, with night after night of explosives until all of our neighbors have ignited every fuse they can find. The best scenario would be light enough rainfall that they use them all up during the rain so that our roof/house/little decorative American flags in the yard/anxiety-ridden dog, have a chance to survive. And, next week, when the "bombs bursting in air" are all over, we'll tackle the mess in our yard. I think that I will officially proclaim myself the Scrooge of Fourth of July…. and I know I'm not alone. "Bah, humbug!
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