It was a good Fourth of July this year.
I headed out tonight to see the fireworks show this year, the first time I've actually attended a community event since I moved to Melrose. I don't get out much in the community, and when I do leave my apartment, it's usually for things like buying food and general supplies, and I had to ask a guy who I went by for directions to where everyone was headed. Melrose is quite a bit bigger than Cataract, so I had to do my fair share of walking (several blocks' worth) before I got to where everyone was headed.
I've been to community events before, but in pretty much every case, it was with my family, and I knew at least some of the people who were there. I knew absolutely no one at this thing and most of the people there were families with kids. Most of the folks who were there brought either lawn chairs or blankets, and the next time I attend one of these things, I'm bringing either a blanket or a folding lawnchair. They did have a place that sold food and drink, so I got myself a cheeseburger and a can of Sierra Mist (they didn't have any Sprite). They played mostly 80s rock and country music (Bon Jovi's "Livin' On a Prayer" was playing when I arrived), but one of the more memorable songs played was Michael Jackson's "Thriller," a nice little tribute to his memory. The last song that played before the big show began was Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." Before the show began, the people on the mike talked about a guy named Charlie who was apparently the head of the people in charge of the fireworks shows in Melrose, who passed away recently (I never heard of the guy because as I said before, I don't get out much in the community), and how they were adding one more piece to the main show tonight in his honor.
The show itself was not too bad. I haven't been up close to a fireworks show for a number of years, so I was quite pleasantly surprised. I found myself wishing that I had brought a camera as well as a blanket so that I could take pictures to show my folks and perhaps put up online. Among other things, one of the thoughts that jumped into my head was "you know you're a Touhou fan when you imagine having to dodge all that shit in the air." Yeah. I'm kind of weird like that. There were about three or four big displays in between lots of palm shells, salutes (big cannon boom shells) and others before the grand finale, and at one point, there was a little ground piece rigged up in a way that looked a lot like an American flag when it went off.
After the show was over, I didn't see any point in sticking around, so after getting another cheeseburger and Sierra Mist, I headed all the way back home to bring a close to this interesting little adventure. There were a good number of people who busied themselves with throwing firecrackers and shit while I was on my way back, and I ignored them as best I could. Pretty much everyone at the building was in bed by the time I arrived back home, so I let myself into the apartment and sat down in the computer chair to give my feet a rest. All in all, it was a good night.
I've been to community events before, but in pretty much every case, it was with my family, and I knew at least some of the people who were there. I knew absolutely no one at this thing and most of the people there were families with kids. Most of the folks who were there brought either lawn chairs or blankets, and the next time I attend one of these things, I'm bringing either a blanket or a folding lawnchair. They did have a place that sold food and drink, so I got myself a cheeseburger and a can of Sierra Mist (they didn't have any Sprite). They played mostly 80s rock and country music (Bon Jovi's "Livin' On a Prayer" was playing when I arrived), but one of the more memorable songs played was Michael Jackson's "Thriller," a nice little tribute to his memory. The last song that played before the big show began was Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." Before the show began, the people on the mike talked about a guy named Charlie who was apparently the head of the people in charge of the fireworks shows in Melrose, who passed away recently (I never heard of the guy because as I said before, I don't get out much in the community), and how they were adding one more piece to the main show tonight in his honor.
The show itself was not too bad. I haven't been up close to a fireworks show for a number of years, so I was quite pleasantly surprised. I found myself wishing that I had brought a camera as well as a blanket so that I could take pictures to show my folks and perhaps put up online. Among other things, one of the thoughts that jumped into my head was "you know you're a Touhou fan when you imagine having to dodge all that shit in the air." Yeah. I'm kind of weird like that. There were about three or four big displays in between lots of palm shells, salutes (big cannon boom shells) and others before the grand finale, and at one point, there was a little ground piece rigged up in a way that looked a lot like an American flag when it went off.
After the show was over, I didn't see any point in sticking around, so after getting another cheeseburger and Sierra Mist, I headed all the way back home to bring a close to this interesting little adventure. There were a good number of people who busied themselves with throwing firecrackers and shit while I was on my way back, and I ignored them as best I could. Pretty much everyone at the building was in bed by the time I arrived back home, so I let myself into the apartment and sat down in the computer chair to give my feet a rest. All in all, it was a good night.