By Robin Weaver
Of course I love fireworks—it’s glitter with noise! But have fireworks lost their luster? Once upon a time—and it
really wasn’t that long ago—we waited all year for 4th of July
fireworks. If we were really, really lucky, we got a small teaser in our
Christmas stockings—Roman candles, sparklers and firecrackers. Fourth of July
fireworks were an EVENT. This year, I’m like, “eh…don’t want to deal with
parking.” And I’m not alone. One neighbor actually said, “Fireworks are kinda
boring?”
Say what? Since when
don’t I care about the boom-boom-boom? What’s wrong with my neighbor? What’s
wrong with me?
Wait, it can’t be me.
I just said I love glitter and noise. So maybe it’s the fireworks?
Hmm… Today’s fireworks are bigger and better than ever. The
sizzle in the sky can be precisely placed at varying heights and can give the
impression of objects in the sky, rather than merely color. 120 tons of pyrotechnics were fired off of seven barges,
the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House.
We're talking
trees, planets, fish and flowers. What’s more, firework events often require a
minimum of four weeks of design and another two weeks of preparations to
package the materials. Most fireworks displays are accompanied by music and
bands, etc. etc. Shows are spectacular.
Last year In Sydney,
So… My lack of enthusiasm can’t be the pyrotechnics, either.
Which leads me to my very unscientific conclusion. Fireworks are overexposed. All
you have to do is Google to find some event featuring night glitter in your
area. Here in Charlotte, our Class AAA baseball team, the Charlotte Knights, has
Fireworks on Friday night games; even the local Class A team, the Intimidators
(yep, named after NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt) has fireworks after most games.
Heck, even my screensaver has fireworks!
So what must a gal do to get back that wow factor? How can
we make fireworks an event again?
I have no idea, but I’m thinking wine will help. Do you have any ideas?
While you’re drinking—eh, I mean thinking…
Hope you had a great 4th of July!
9 comments:
Apropos post, Robin. I didn't even watch on t.v. last night because I knew I'd be disappointed. Artsy camera views (through trees, between buildings, etc.) and then all the hoopla leading up to the fireworks is a turnoff for me.
To go to a local event means sitting outside being a feast for mosquitoes and dealing with the parking. Wine isn't enough of an incentive. Neither is a margarita!
Your comment about over-exposure I think is spot on. We never got fireworks in Christmas stockings, but the 4th of July was a big deal. Family gathering, BBQ, hanging the flag and taking it down - all had a bit of ceremony about it.
With family either deceased or spread out the impetus to gather for this special day of the year has been lost. Add to it the people who wait until 11 p.m. to fire off the illegal fireworks --- every 20 - 30 minutes as they move around the neighborhood so as not to get caught. Sleep deprivation doesn't help either.
I have to disagree. We love the 4th of July and the fireworks! Of course, we have a front row seat on our front deck. The city shoots the fireworks off of a butte about 1 mile from us. We have our tradition of either going to the 4th of July craft show which brings vendors from all over the western states or we go to Sisters, OR, the town next door, which we did this year, and enjoyed the Rock & Gem show followed by a wonderful lunch out.
Then its home to relax.In the evening we have a special dinner of bar-be-que ribs, potato salad, corn on the cob and custard fruit pie. !0:00 pm Mom, 91 yrs old, my husband and myself are out on the front porch sitting and watching the fireworks. Of course we always have a flag out too.
We miss that family doesnt' always make it from California, but we still try and enjoy the day!
The 4th is America's birthday celebration and I won't give it up for anything. I'm proud to be an American even when I don't agree with the politicians.
Still love fireworks, but my dogs don't, so we stay home to calm them down.
Hi Diane--I still love fireworks too--only traffic and parking have gotten so crazy. Your deck sounds awesome!
I agree. I still love them but the feeling is certainly different nowadays overall.
Hope you had a great 4th as well!
I love fireworks, but I agree I'm not into the hustle and bustle of getting to the spot to watch.
You're right about the over-exposure. My back up plan is to go to the ballpark on any Friday night during AAA baseball season in durham NC and watch the Durham Bulls play. After the game there are fireworks!
As for yesterday and fireworks. Heard the sporadic boom which drove our dog Chuy nuts! He was more entertaining.
Robin you suggestion of wine is by far my favorite.
I love the fireworks but unless we have some on our dock, we watch them on TV! Last night I was very disappointed in the Boston Pops show--no 1812 overture and few patriotic songs. I'm a dweeb, I know. We did DVR and fast forwarded to the fireworks at the Macys show, which I thought were spectacular. Very unusual patterns, all coordinated to mostly patriotic music from five barges on the East River. You could see the Empire State Bldg lit up in red, white and blue in the background. All from the comfort of my darkened bedroom with drink in hand and Doc and the pups nearby!
I have to say local stuff leaves me cold--bugs, parking, etc. Stay home and catch them on the tube with your glass of wine in hand!
Definite overexposure where I live. Think I got turned off by fireworks a few years ago when we were in a serious drought and people in the neighborhood still insisted on shooting off fireworks. The debris from some landed in our tinder-dry grass. Here there aren't just fireworks on the 4th for days before and after people are shooting off fireworks till late at night. Have definitely lost their luster for me.
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