"Fireworks had for her a direct and magical appeal.
Their attraction was more complex than that of any other form of art ..."
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| Lego mini figures "oooh" 7-5-14 |
"They had pattern and sequence, colour and sound, brilliance and mobility;
they had suspense, surprise, and a faint hint of danger ... "
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| Lego mini figures "aaaah" 7-5-14 |
"...above all, they had the supreme quality of transience,
which puts the keenest edge on beauty and makes it touch some spring in the heart
which more enduring excellences cannot reach."
-- Jan Struther, Mrs. Miniver
One of my favorite family traditions is "Leo's Annual Fourth of July Big Backyard Home-Rolled Fireworks Extravaganza."
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| Mackenna and Leo 7-5-14 |
We always invite our 86-year old neighbor Vera, and a few very select friends have joined us over the years for Leo's display of smoke bombs, firecrackers, Roman candles, sparklers and other cool, noisy stuff that shoots fire into the air and goes Crack! Pop! or Boom!
Last night's show lasted nearly 3 hours and was the best yet. We had cookies and coffee. The kids drew shapes in the dark with their sizzling sparklers. I took pictures.
I look forward to Leo's show every year. Vera always asks if we're still having it and stays up way past her usual early bedtime waving sparklers in the air and gleefully slamming Pop Its against the patio cement.
I truly enjoy Leo's backyard fireworks more than the big fancy display that our town will put on tonight. I guess it's because Leo's show is ours and ours alone. And even if both shows happened on the same night, I'd easily choose to stay home with the people I love most rather than follow the crowd.
It's our little way of celebrating independence.
