Do you love the Fourth of July?Good for you.
I get cranky about it.
I don't mean to be such a drag on the fun. It's just that after a week of explosives going off in our neighborhood (tomorrow they'll be illegal again -- huzzah!) I'm ready for it to end. And the enormous fireworks display in our community? I get cranky about that, too, because a huge part of me finds it to be a sinful waste of money.
I told you I'm no fun.
But, we went to the huge, sinful waste of money, and as always, my kids had fun. And I had fun, too, prompting Ramona to say, "Now, Mommy, don't you regret what you said earlier? When you were cranky?"
Well, yeah. And I'm happy and I'm privileged to live in a country where I'm free to be cranky and no fun.
Happy birthday, America. We love you.
10 comments:
I feel the same about fireworks - especially since people let them off for months afterward. Drives me crazy. We have Guy Fawkes Night here and I'm always wishing they'd just ban private fireworks as they keep threatening to do.
The noise and spectacle of fireworks are not my cup of tea either. There was a baby next to us last night screaming and screaming, it just broke my heart. The parents were covering her eras and rocking her trying to soothe her when clearly her nervous system was NOT happy. She eventually just shut down. I still haven't come up with a good thing to have said to them.
The other reason I am not a fireworks fan is that it makes me think of the people all over the world living in areas of armed conflict. they hear those noises everyday and it it people being shot and buildings exploding. Meanwhile we blithely look up without a care in the world and "ooo" and "Ahh."
Can someone please invite silent fireworks that have some sort of ecological benefit?!?
Cranky? Karen you are starting to sound like an old lady! Watch out or soon you'll be shaking your cane at the paper boy and calling him a whipper-snapper!LOL!
Sounds like Mrs. Cranky Pants needs some new holiday weekend traditions. Maybe something with less exploding fireworks, and more quiet and time to read. How is it "celebrating" if it makes us miserable?
I am sympathetic to your inability to escape these noisy surroundings. I can think of no better way to celebrate a country one loves than quiet laughter among friends, over an excellent meal, a glass of wine. There need be no firecrackers, that would suit me Just Fine. :-)
Warren
ha! And I thought I was nuts! :)
We have a visiting priest from India. He was at the fireworks show and video taped the whole thing. I was embarassed. I thought, "He's going to go back to India and say, 'Look what these Americans can spend their money on!'"
Thanks for your honesty, Karen. I think it's good to live with intention, and not just accept what is. Also glad you can embrace the blessings, even in those things that don't sit quite right. Our university that provides the fireworks and other kid events cut way back this year so I can't complain about excessive. I missed the old offerings -- really kid-friendly stuff. It wasn't the same this year. Anyway, glad the bang is over now, for another year anyway. :)
I can deal with fireworks on the 4th of July but what drives me crazy (and has always struck me as a sinful waste of money) is the fireworks that are set off several times a week at the local (minor league!) ballpark down the street from me --ALL SPRING AND SUMMER LONG. I am so sick of fireworks!! What used to be a big deal once a year has become a regular annoyance.
I recently started reading your blog and I love your style of writing! Also, I loved your new book!
I was wondering if there was some way to get to the beginning of your blog...without having to scroll down and click "older post"
every page...?
Thanks!
Thanks, all, for your sympathy and comments. :)
Bridget, if you scroll quite a way down in the sidebar, you'll find the blog archives, and you can click on a month at a time to read older posts. Welcome, and I'm glad you like the blog and the book -- thank you!
Thanks so much!
I so enjoy reading your older blog postings. :)
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