Ode to Fireworks

That's right.  It is FIREWORKS TIME!!!! I love fireworks.  I mean, what's not to love?  They are exciting and sparkly.  And I'm a girl, so, there ya go.

I have wonderful memories of fireworks.  When I was living on the east coast growing up, my parents would take my brother and I to see fireworks in a great big park and there was also an orchestra (a la Boston Pops) that played patriotic songs.  How fun is that?

Actually, its not just the fireworks.  I love the Fourth of July.  I love being American and I love our country.  I feel like its one of the few times in the year that most of the country is celebrating just the blessing of being here.  It's unifying, despite all the political crap that goes on most of the rest of the year.   And potato salad is a huge plus.

But back to fireworks.  They are just magical!!! Especially if you listen to music while you watch them.  Sometimes they explode in time with the music and that is RAD.  Actually, the first time I tried this, I was with my family visiting my grandparents in Casa Grande and it helped my bro and I bond.  I know that sounds super cheesy, but seeing as how we fought all growing up and now we are best friends, I give some credit to that year at the fireworks.

I've spent quite a few Independence Days in Casa Grande actually.  We used to get all the cousins together and sit in my Papa's pick-up truck and drink root-beer floats while watching them.  One year we actually went to the field and the fireworks were so close that pieces were falling all around us.  I got to take one home!  My mom almost had a heart attack worrying that we were going to get burnt to a crisp, but it was a 4th of July miracle I guess :)

One of the most memorable 4th's was when we went camping as a family.  It was raining and storming all day, and we were pretty bummed cause we knew that they wouldn't shoot fireworks in the rain.  But we drove around the tiny town at dark anyway, and THEY LIT THEM.  IN THE RAIN.  In a thunderstorm actually.  We all stayed in the car and saw the most amazing display of earth and heaven's fireworks.  Lighting and fireworks together. Truly incredible.

My love for fireworks doesn't just apply to the Fourth though.  I love them anywhere, anytime.  In fact, my brother was really surprised when I didn't shoot them off for my wedding, but we live in AZ, where personal explosive bullets of happiness are illegal.  Boo.  My favorite fireworks show is in Disneyland.  I cry every. single. time.  Its all so magical and fun and beautiful I can't help it.  It makes me feel like a kid again.  And what is wrong with that???

So, last year I had to miss the fireworks.  I was in Massachusetts doing "Carousel" and we had a show that night.  Yes, I could hear them interrupting the last scene of the show, but I didn't get to see any of the glory.  I was only a few hours from a personal goal of mine to see the Boston Pops Fourth of July Spectacular--and I was singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" instead.  But I did get to make my 4th of July Pie.

This year will be different though.  Tonight, the city of Logan is shooting off fireworks so that people can go to SLC for the big show tomorrow night I guess.  I am not gonna lie....I was really dissapointed to find out that Jordan couldn't make it to watch them with me cause of rehearsal.  I wanted to share this memory and tradition together for the first time.  But, there is always next year I suppose.  Plus, here in Utah, I can get my own.  (I'm too scared to shoot off real ones, but you better BELIEVE I already have a ton of sparklers).  So we can celebrate together a different time.  I did make myself an iPod playlist for this evening festivities and I might even get myself a root beer float.  Who knows? Maybe on Sunday we'll watch Pops Goes the Fourth.  I love me some Boston Pops...almost as much as a sparkly firework.  May the magic COMMENCE!!!!