July 4th

Before telling you about our last day on the Trace, I have to tell you that our house did not burn down on July 4th.  Last year we were pleasantly surprised by the huge fireworks show that our neighbor put on.  This year, though, it's been extremely hot and dry for many weeks.  (We came back to very dead grass after our two-week road trip.)  There were (and continue to be) 'no open burning' and 'no personal fireworks' warnings.  We ate 4th of July burgers at Famous Dave's along with the rest of the world.  I guess everyone was thinking like us - that we had to eat burgers on the 4th even if we couldn't grill them ourselves.

Anyway, we were surprised to drive down our street the afternoon of July 4th to see the preparations beginning - the familiar yellow caution tape marking off the soon-to-be explosive area.  This year though, while the fireworks guy was preparing to blow up the neighborhood, his close-by neighbors (including us) were uncharacteristically watering their lawns in 100-degree temperatures.

The prime viewing spot appears to be the sidewalk on the corner of our lot.  Word must have gotten out about his spectacular show last year because twice as many people showed up this time.  Howard and I sat near our front door so that we could make a quick get away if there were any police action.  The show wasn't as spectacular as last year, and there was a delay in the middle when the fireworks guy informed us that a disgruntled neighbor was threatening to call the police.

The show ended.  Nothing caught on fire.  No one lost any body parts.  The fireworks guy started cleaning up his mess.  Everyone started folding up their camping chairs.  We were already in the house when I heard a big truck going down the street.  As Gladys Kravitz would've done, I peaked through the blinds and watched.  A fire truck drove slowly and quietly right past the 'blasting zone', past our house, turned around in our cul-de-sac, drove past the 'blasting zone' a second time, and then continued slowly on its way.  The firemen didn't even get out of the truck to give the fireworks guy a stern talking to.  Weird.