I've been purchasing and lighting my own fireworks (the *safe and sane* ones) for almost 50 years now. While the shows put on by local fire department personnel are spectacular, there is something special about personally putting flame to fuse.
It is an easy thing to do. My kids have been doing it for as long as they can remember. I think I put a sparkler in each of my kid's hands when they were 2 years of age.
Last night was no exception. Here in Oakland one is not allowed to light fireworks. That doesn't stop me. Every year I drive out to Dublin, a city not too far from where our founding father Steve resides, to purchase fireworks from a TNT, Red Devil, Freedom Fireworks, or other firework stand.
A 16 year old neighbor of mine came by while my wife, kids and I were having our own pyrospectacular. She had never lit a firework. Never. I invited her to light a flower, a little firework that does nothing more than spin on the ground and emit a few different colored flames for about 10 seconds. She refused. I told my 13 year old daughter to go with my neighbor and they both walked from my front porch to the corner where we light all of our fireworks, almost as if my daughter was holding my neighbor's hand. My neighbor lit the flower and ran as fast as she could about 30 feet away. The flower did its thing. We moved on to other fireworks. I know my neighbor never will forget that moment. Sometimes its just the simple things.
Anyway, for those who do light their own fireworks, here's a great tip. Get a steel/aluminum ladder and place your fountains on the top of the ladder. The fountains will shoot higher into the air and the sparks will have farther to fall before hitting the ground. It makes for a significantly better display.
Oh, and last night, just as the last fountain finished doing its thing, an Oakland police car drives by at a very slow rate of speed shining a spotlight on the ladder. We were holding our collective breath. We were glad to see that police car continue driving down the street and away from our house. Phew.
It is an easy thing to do. My kids have been doing it for as long as they can remember. I think I put a sparkler in each of my kid's hands when they were 2 years of age.
Last night was no exception. Here in Oakland one is not allowed to light fireworks. That doesn't stop me. Every year I drive out to Dublin, a city not too far from where our founding father Steve resides, to purchase fireworks from a TNT, Red Devil, Freedom Fireworks, or other firework stand.
A 16 year old neighbor of mine came by while my wife, kids and I were having our own pyrospectacular. She had never lit a firework. Never. I invited her to light a flower, a little firework that does nothing more than spin on the ground and emit a few different colored flames for about 10 seconds. She refused. I told my 13 year old daughter to go with my neighbor and they both walked from my front porch to the corner where we light all of our fireworks, almost as if my daughter was holding my neighbor's hand. My neighbor lit the flower and ran as fast as she could about 30 feet away. The flower did its thing. We moved on to other fireworks. I know my neighbor never will forget that moment. Sometimes its just the simple things.
Anyway, for those who do light their own fireworks, here's a great tip. Get a steel/aluminum ladder and place your fountains on the top of the ladder. The fountains will shoot higher into the air and the sparks will have farther to fall before hitting the ground. It makes for a significantly better display.
Oh, and last night, just as the last fountain finished doing its thing, an Oakland police car drives by at a very slow rate of speed shining a spotlight on the ladder. We were holding our collective breath. We were glad to see that police car continue driving down the street and away from our house. Phew.
