Dogs are smarter than people. I’ll tell you how I know. When
people start lighting fireworks, dogs either hide, or run away. Don’t get me
wrong; when I was a kid I loved them too. I loved snakes and sparklers. I
remember dad trying to find the perfect place to nail the pinwheel so it would
spin without stopping. We had a lot of fun back then. We always had the hose
ready to go in case of a wayward spark, but I can’t say we were very safe with
our handling of fireworks. That could be because our dad was known for loving
to blow things up. When we were older dad would go in his shop and fill a
plastic milk jug with acetylene gas and put a paper towel in the top for a
torch. We never knew when the next explosion would come. The guys actually
threw firecrackers behind each other at times. Luckily, no one was ever hurt. I
can’t forget to mention the windows that got blown out of the ranch house
though. It was July 4, 1980. The men decided there was some old dynamite that
needed to be blown up (because it was dangerous.). They put it in a 50 gallon
drum out in the field and started taking turns shooting at it. The women were
in the house making food, of course. I was pregnant with my first child, but
not barefoot.
One of the men hit the mark and we heard the loud kaboom!
Simultaneously, the bay windows were sucked out of the house. When we all ran
out to tell the men, they didn’t believe us. That is one Fourth of July that
has not been forgotten!
Once I had children of my own my love affair with fireworks
ended. Then all I could think about was the dangers and I became one of those
annoyingly over-protective mothers. Step back! Your face is too close! Be
careful!
I woke up this morning and saw that a 61-year-old man was
killed last night in a fireworks explosion. There weren’t many details, other
than that the bomb squad was investigating. I wonder when people will figure
out how dangerous the fireworks can be and start following the law.
I know that if my dad had died in an explosion, we would
have probably said that he died having fun. But I am sure that wouldn’t really
be a comfort to us and I’m sure it isn’t a comfort to the family of the man
killed last night. I had a bad feeling all day. That comes when it is hot
outside and you live in a 30 year old mobile home in a mobile home park. I
could hear the booms long after I went to bed and I was not able to sleep. I
worry a lot, but you know, my fears are not unreasonable. I am afraid of things
that do pose dangers to others and myself.
This is my birthday.
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