Hey, baby, it’s the Fourth of July . . . and that means it’s time for the annual reprint of Fireworks:
As the sun sank lower and lower, sparklers were passed out to everyone, even the younger children. I politely declined, my mind absolutely focused on the coming display. I wanted to make a big impression on the family. I was going to start out with something amazing, which would really grab their attention. I’d start with some groundflowers, then a Piccolo Pete and a sparkling cone. From then on, I’d just improvise with the older cousins, following their lead as we worked together to weave a spectacular tapestry of burning phosphor and gunpowder for five generations of family.
Dusk arrived, the family was seated, and the great display began. Some of the veteran fireworks lighters went first, setting off some cascading fountains and a pinwheel. The assembled audience cheered and gasped its collective approval, and it was my turn.
I steeled myself and walked to the center of the large patio, casually kicking aside the still-hot remains of just-fired fountains. Casually, like someone who had done this hundreds of times before.
My hands trembled slightly, as I picked up three ground flowers that I’d wound together. My thumb struck flint and released flaming butane. I lit the fuse and became a man. The sparkling fire raced toward the ignition point and rather than following the directions to
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This is my second 4th of July as an American living in England. Last year, I don’t think I did anything. This year, however, I’ve discovered that the local Hard Rock Caf
I love that story, Wil. Have fun with your family, HAPPY 4TH. 🙂
Thanks for sharing this story again Wil…I loved it in the book and I loved reading it again here. I’m picturing your great-great-great-aunt laughing hysterically right now! 🙂 Happy Independence Day to you and your family! Freedom rules!!!
wil: thanks for the reminder of your 4th of july story…even if you hadn’t mentioned it…i still would think of it…because a really good story like that doesn’t just get written down on paper…it also gets written in your heart…happy indepedance day to you and your family…and to all WWDN’rs.
Always one of my favourite stories of yours, wil 🙂 Happy Independence Day.
I enjoyed reading that story as much this year as I did last year when I first started visiting. Happy Independence Day to you, and the rest of my neighbours to the south.
Unfortunately I’m spending this Fourth home sick in bed (just got up for the first time today). While I appreciate seeing the fireworks piece again (Fourth of July traditions rock!!!1!) What really made my day was the Dave Alvin/X reference right at the beginning of the post! Nice touch Wil, thanks!
*snorts with laughter* reminds me of the 4th of July that my nephew Kody and I almost set one of our trees on fire with a Roman Candle (not the dynamite kind, the firework kind)….come to think of it, that was the year that Kody lit a sparkler off of a Roman Candle…*shakes her head at her crazy nephew*
Now I every year on July 4th I will be wondering if Ryan and Nolan are being forced into lawn chairs, watching you light groundflowers. That and I’ll never be able to keep a straight face whenever someone mentions lawn chairs.
I miss fireworks. When I was little my dad used to do a small display for the family at our house on Guy Fawkes Day. But then fireworks became banned by the government. Then we moved to Australia (from New Zealand) and in Australia they don’t have Guy Fawkes Day. So now the only fireworks I get to see are on TV on New Years, and for stuff like the Olympics.
Happy Interdependence Day Wil! 😛
Last year was not good for my family since my mother was rushed to the emergency room due to enstrangulated intestines. (NOT a great topic for the 4th of July.) Sadly there was a lot of decay, but the surgeon did a great job of cleaning and removing most of the damage. This year is the one-year anniversary of the survival of that awful event. I agree with you that “4th of July” is about family (along with “Throughout The Years”).
It’s important to be grateful for the family and friends we have. It would be nice to count you as a friend, but we have never met. I had moved from La Puente years ago because our neighborhood (at that time) was going to hell in an express elevator due to the surrounding violence. I miss California and its upbeat pace. I use to work in one of those “offices” in one of the homes NORTH of Sunset Blvd. I’ve worked for the same business next to Venice Beach. (I used to go to the Juice Bar and have shots of sweet wheat grass juice.) It was always a pleasure to return “Home” and enjoy the neighborhood I grew up in. That too, is now a vacated history.
We Americans take a lot for granted (Places, things, people, et cetera) and we forget about those who fought for the privilege we now have. We get indignant at a drop of a hat when things don’t go “Our” way. But luckily, I have found a class of people that I care about. I have found people who actually have more ACTIVE than REACTIVE minds. They are drawn together by a flame that has good ideas, ideals, and heart. These people I consider my extended family who are your peers and YOU are the flame. Yes, many times things don’t work out for you. Yes, occasionally you suffer from “Foot In Mouth” disease (and who here hasn’t?). You are passionate for just causes and willing to humble yourself when you are responsible for things that go awry. Not many would bare responsibility for BOTH their credits and their faults. (But enough of the accolades.)
The individuals who visit your Blog and AudBlogs (and more) are independent thinkers who share their ideas and passions with you. I have seen countless times where people come here because of your NAME, and STAY because of your IDEALS. As for me, (and this is RARE of me to use “expressive” language), I don’t give a RAT’S ASS about Celebrity Titles, or stardom. Everyone has different strengths, educations, skills, and jobs. In all these things, no one is BETTER than me, because I consider them my equal. I tend to shun people who believe that they are ABOVE me. I am glad that you are not one of those people. I consider you an EQUAL and there is no greater compliment that I can currently give. If people don’t say this to you enough, then let me say THANK YOU. -DustyP.S. I miss the metal rod sparklers.P.P.S. You are overdue for an Audblog! ; )
Happy Fourth of July to you Wil!
I hope you and your family had a great 4th! I’m with you on what the 4th of July means. We live in a great country and we should all appreciate it more. Your right, spending it with the ones you love means more than anything. The best to all of you:)P.S. Can’t wait to hear about Just a Geek!!
As usual, a great piece of writing! I hope you and your family have a great Fourth of July!
Thanks for reposting that. I read it just a few days ago thanks to the link in your Salshdot interview – it still cracks me up!
I love that story… reminds me of nicer times, like last year’s Fourth of July. We had some really nice fireworks, and my friends and I got to light them in our field for everyone else. It was all muddy and there were mosquitoes everywhere, and each time we’d light them, we would follow our motto: “Light them and run like hell!”
Anyway, sorry, I got on a tangent there. Totally sorry. Have a nice Fourth, Wil! (Or at least I hope you had one, because it’s rather late…)
I never get tired of that story, Wil. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Happy 4th to you! Hope you and the family had a good one!
I love this story. This was the first one I ever read and it made me smile and it’s the one that hooked me on the site.
I reread this one in your book constantly and I never get tired of reading it.
Good job.
I LOVE that story! I think I’m going to go to that chapter and read the WEHOLE story!
🙂
Happy 4th everyone! May we become independent from Bush some day!
I LOVE that story! I think I’m going to go to that chapter and read the WEHOLE story!
🙂
Happy 4th everyone! May we become independent from Bush some day!
I LOVE that story! I think I’m going to go to that chapter and read the WEHOLE story!
🙂
Happy 4th everyone! May we become independent from Bush some day!
I LOVE that story! I think I’m going to go to that chapter and read the WEHOLE story!
🙂
Happy 4th everyone! May we become independent from Bush some day!
To some it’s about blowing shit up, for others it’s about celebrating freedom… For me, it’s about family…
(D) All of the above
Got to teach my almost-2-year-old the word “boom” and how to laugh and smile about colorful fireworks rather than crying and burying his face.
THAT’S what it’s about to me.
Oh yeah, and the 4,000 duct-taped sparkler sparkler-bomb. That was rock-star-style heat.
This story made me spit my glass of milk halfway across the room. Totally funny! And your poor great-aunt! That’s what really makes it funny. My husband and I have a joke that EVERYTHING is funnier on fire. Older relatives are no exception. I hope you tell this story every 4th of July for years to come.
Loved that story the first time I read it – Been a reader of yours for years.
Just wanted to let you know that July 4th now holds a special place in this Canadian’s heart, as my wife gave birth to our daughter late Monday night.
We live in a bordertown, so now every 4th when the fireworks go off, my little girl will get a special treat for her birthday.
But I’ll thank you not to light the fuse around her. haha.