Fourth of July

So this day is my families Christmas. No really they and in time I enjoyed giving the gift of fireworks to various cities and towns. Hearing the oohs and ahhh from the kids and adults. 

My earliest memory was being in the car while my parents helped with the Olympics when they were hosted in Los Angeles. I remember touring the grounds passing through at the time less security and seeing all the people. After that we were hooked.

Fourth of July at the plateau in Thousand Oaks.  Being on the beach in Santa Barbara doing hourly wind tests when we happened to be visited by Ronald Reagan's entourage as he was flying home and no one bothered to let the secret service know.  But interesting picturing a bunch of pyros on the beach with boxes and mortars lined up only to have the presidential helicopters flying overhead.

Then on to various towns and locations year after year.  If you have had the chance to ever be there that close you know what I'm talking about.  If you haven't I will just say it is a rush you won't forget. 

There is a lot of hard work that goes into shows.  Ours may have been different but typically we would start with wood and build the boxes place the paper and sometimes metal rubes depending on the size then fill the boxes with sand. These of course for the core part of the show.  Some reloaded others not.  Then there is the last rack.  That depending on the arraignment was two or three racks that are set up to go in a timed sequence that would light many at once. 

All the while dressed in overalls and head gear for safety. Which in the warmer States is a but daunting.  One year I forgot to wear my head gear and I sported a nice S shaped burn from a falling fuse on my head which was a bit embarrassing.

I still have video from the last show.  That one being bittersweet as it was also a tribute to my mom.  All the family together one last time. The show was awesome and I watch that every year.  Hearing my sons voice when talking about his favorites.  Screaming out Grand Finale! As he couldn't wait to see off of them at once.  And even a video of my sister coaxing his mom on to not be afraid when lighting one of the hourly shots and to not be afraid. 

These days I enjoy sitting back and watching the shows with him. Sharing moments on the other side of the fence but one day I hope to be back with him on the other side showing him the rush and seeing if he enjoys it as much as I did.

The other thing that was great was after everything was broken down.  All put up and loaded we would go grab a bite to eat at one of the all night restaurants.  Listening to the other customers talk about the show or even the waitress.  Never saying a word about being the ones that did it instead shaking our heads and just commenting that we heard it was a good show.

This time of year have fun, be safe, share those memories and try and capture them we know we did.