Happy Fourth
Happy Fourth of July to all our readers.
We'll spend it picking up trash at the local airport. It's one of the charitable endeavors Eric undertakes, since he's very good at it. It's like he has twelve arms, ten of which are built close to the ground. They're called children, and picking up trash after the the local fireworks celebration is a nice and easy lesson in civic duty.
After that, we attend a neighborhood parade and ice cream social. It's a small annual effort to promote community. Eric can't say he particularly enjoys it, but the kids like walking in the parade (waving to about fifteen on-lookers along the four block route) and eating the ice cream. The folks who participate are kind and good, so what the heck.
After that, nap. Eric took his brood to the local fireworks last night, and didn't get to bed until 11:30. He normally goes to bed (much) earlier, and he hasn't been able to sleep late in the morning since his undergrad days at the University of Michigan, so he's dragging today.
Daggone fireworks. Is Eric the only one who finds them boring? Eric was something of a pyro growing up and still enjoys shooting off a Roman Candle or two, but the professionally-produced huge firework displays bore him (except the grand finale, but even that would probably get boring if it continued for thirty minutes). He almost feels unpatriotic denigrating the professionally-produced fireworks, but no matter: they're plastic and boring.
A few years ago, Eric would attend a big Fourth party out in the country. The organizers asked everyone to throw money into a pot ($20 or so), and they'd buy about $1,000 worth of fireworks. Now that was fun: all the people (including the "technicians") were drinking; the fireworks were shot off just 50 yards from the bonfire where everyone was gathered; the smoke from the works would get dense; every so often a rocket would fail, causing the load to explode while on the ground. Nothing like a little beer and risk of death to heighten the enjoyment.
Again, have a happy Independence Day.
