In Light of Fireworks
 | Current mood:  amused Category: Life So, one evening this week (I forget which one because they have all been blending together) as I was driving home from somewhere (again with the blending) I heard the sound of firecrackers. I say "firecrackers" because that's what folks in the South call them, and as it happens, I live around folks from the South. Anyhoo. So I hear these firecrackers and the first thing that pops into my mind is, "Wooly mammoth! Is it the fourth already? Have I seriously lost that many days?" Then I remembered that Joshie hadn't left for Alaska yet, and he was flying out on the second, so it couldn't be the fourth yet... I didn't know WHAT day it was, but it definitely WASN'T the fourth. Well... then why am I hearing firecrackers? I'm not sure of this, but I think it's illegal to do fireworks before the fourth. But even if it's not, isn't the whole point of the fireworks to celebrate the HOLIDAY??? Which falls on the FOURTH??? I mean I know firecrackers are fun, I'm especially fond of sparklers myself, but I can't figure out why people would be shooting off fireworks before the holiday... and don't EVEN get me STARTED about M80s and other ILLEGAL fireworks. As I pulled into the driveway at home I heard some more firecrackers go off. I think they were bottle rockets cause they were popping in the air but there weren't any pretty embers falling. I did that thing that dogs do when they're confused, you know, cocking their head to one side, and then I realized there was another question I had. Why, knowing how much firecrackers freak some animals out, would people be setting them off on more than one night? I was confused. I know that most of the people in my neighborhood have pets of some kind because I hear them barking (not the people, the pets... well, not all the pets, just the dogs) all the time. I also see their cats lounging on back porches or prowling through our back yard trying to get at the birds who are sneaking stuff from our garden. You would think that with all the animal lovers around here people would be sensitive and not set fireworks off until the actual night of the holiday... Then it came to me. They must be practicing! Practicing! Of course! Practice DOES make perfect. Hmmm. They're making sure their firework experience will be perfect! Now I get it! But wait... practicing fireworks? I mean, even pyrotechnic guys don't have a dress rehearsal... they put the show together then cross their fingers that it goes right based on their training and expertise... Of course most of their shows are fire hazards, so I can see why they wouldn't want to risk two shows. Then again, if the people who are shooting off firecrackers around here need PRACTICE I wonder how much of a fire hazard THEY are... Now that I think of it, if these people really DO need practice (I mean how much brain power does it take to light a fuse and walk or run away from it?) then I'm seriously questioning the idea of whether they should even have ACCESS to fireworks. If it takes you three or four days of practice to get your firecrackers lit and working right you might just be one cherry bomb short of a fireworks display. Shoot, I'd hate to see the hands of these people, they've probably lost a finger or two trying to "get it right." Then again, I guess I'd rather them practice on a small scale than mess up on a large scale... someone could lose a limb... or burn a neighborhood down. It's not bad enough that people mix DRINKING and fireworks, now we have to worry about people mixing STUPID with fireworks. Well, it's the fourth now. I expect I'll be hearing (and eventually seeing) neighborhood displays of patriotism. Be sure to take care of your pets so they don't get loose amid the cacophony, and have a water hose or some kind of water supply on hand in case an accidental fire breaks out. I sure hope all of that practice makes for a safe and enjoyable show. I guess we'll know whether it did or not when we do or don't hear the sound of sirens over the sound of things going "pop" in the night. |
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