Fireworks

Growing up we went camping every summer. It didn’t happen often but occasionally this meant we were camping on the Fourth of July. If this was the case, we would find the nearest town and find out if there was going to be a celebration and what the details were. Then we would be sure to attend. One year we were camping on the Fourth of July and had gotten information about the fireworks. We drove from the campground, found a parking place and waited and waited and waited. Finally, a firework went off. We all cheered. Then we waited and waited and waited again. Finally, a second firework went off. We all cheered. There must have been five minutes between each of a dozen fireworks. It was the best the tiny little town could do and it was great.

Another great fireworks experience was when I was in Navajoland. We were staying and working in a small town called Oljeto. The closest”big” town was Gouldings. There was a grocery store, a tourist hotel and restaurant, a trading post, a traditional hogan where a native woman demonstrated spinning with a Navajo spindle and weaving and there was a short airstrip. The year we were there on the Fourth of July we made sure we had the information about the fireworks. They took place at the end of the airstrip just after dark. After dinner and clean up, we loaded up our group and drove to Gouldings and parked at the grocery facing the airstrip.

As with the previous fireworks in a small town, there was a little bit of time between each firework. However, in this case, it was because each firework echoed through the valley. It was phenomenal! First you got the firework and as you were enjoying the visuals, you also got to enjoy the blast thundering through the valley. It was by far the best firework experience I have ever had.

Of course, the fireworks at The Pig Roast were always the best. As mentioned before, in the beginning it was a very small display. As the party grew, the firework display grew as well. First a few fireworks and a few people by the pool. Then a few more fireworks and a few more people at the creek. Finally, a small pickup truck bed full of fireworks and a country lane full of generations of people very intentionally cheering, “OOOOOOOOOOOO” and “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.”

Fireworks are simply the best.