Just thinking ...
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fireworks—soggy, glorious! Stars and stripes on my porch, pops and booms in the neighborhood, wild barking from my dog, trying to scare off the odd movement and scary noises. But now, I am driving, 4th of July evening, into a rainstorm. The cracks and bangs are thunder; the showy flashes are lightning, oddly unaccompanied by oohs and ahhs. East and south the sky is black. The mountains are draped in clouds. But to the north, the sky is blue with whipped-cream clouds. So I wait, in my car, through thunder, rain, fogged windows, lightning-induced static on the radio, till the northern sky is dark, the mountains peek shyly out, and people venture from their automated caves to find seats for the show. 7 p.m.—rain over, I hike to the hill. Too high; I return to my car, switch parking lots, try again: set up my chair— blue sky, light-edged clouds, bug spray ... view the scene. 7:30—"May I have your attention! The weather bureau predicts rain, maybe hail. Please wait in your cars, or relax at your own risk." 8:00—I try again: darker now, band valiantly playing a la Titanic? no ... funnel cakes, pizza, jumping house shaped like a tiger, a lazy wind, purple—the in color for tents and umbrellas, flapping tarps, escaped plates, balls, hats, something blowing past me— cottonwood? small bits of trash? aha! soap bubbles! Listening to people's varying reactions: a fly-away ground cloth—laughter; a hot dog rolls off his plate—"5 second rule!" "this is ridiculous!" soothing a crying baby, small boy under a doll's umbrella chuckling as his dad gets out the camera, wheelchair piled high with coolers and toys— "good thing Grandma doesn't mind sitting under the tent!" Clouds rushing south. I'm huddled in sweatshirt and raincoat, passed by a girl in shorts and spaghetti straps. Raindrops blot my paper when they hit the point of the pen. 8:30—sudden downpour! family togetherness under a tarp, people running, lugging coolers, chair, small children: "Hurry!" We wait in our cars. Bang! Crack! Boom! They've started! Windows open; people sit on tailgates: "Daddy, is this cloudy with a chance of meatballs?" "Reminds me of rockets, you know?" From somewhere, "America the Beautiful," "I'm Proud to Be an American!" I sing along. The grand finale, everyone cheering, applauding, and the Lord punctuates the show with heavy downpour. Happy birthday, United States of America! |
Posts
on marshmallows
just when you thought it was safe to get out of the water …
My friend Shannie
fun at Safeway
Maurita is 90? Goodness!
Beware!
Life Lessons from Dads
“Stars and Stripes Forever”
My yard …
Elk Creek’s Spelling Bee
Snow
Ho ho ho!
busy … busy … busy …
Student advocacy …
Small world!
July 1st
fretting …
my new plants
“The Lord planted a garden …”
Worms
hideously horrible, absolutely wonderful writing conference!
Me and the Beatles?
April 14 snowstorm
of Apples and support services
Peak-to-Peak’s Christmas concert
Let there be lights
Mrs. Miniver
fireworks—soggy, glorious!
An island, just for me?
Contemporvant
Trip reading
May!
Flamingo in a snowbank
An abundant week, part 3
An abundant week, part 1
Girl Scout cookie time
Crash Blossoms
Low mood …
Bee sentences
Jesus-is-born scenario
Habit
After Thanksgiving dessert
11.11.11
New dawn?
Snail mail
Tardiness
Oh, yawn!
Technology
Weather
Organization?
Memory lane?
Techno-speak for the elderly
“Where Go the Boats?”
Jumble ®
Fireworks in Westminster
Solution
“Up” from Disney/Pixar
Summer in Colorado
June!
“Grand re-opening”
Flag waving
CU Graduation
Snowstorm on my mind
Cat at Red Lobster
Cheers for FedEx!
Name game
New leaders
Sable samovar
Magformers ™
“Boy in the Striped Pajamas”
Visiting author
Dizzy dame
Recess?
A mossy stone?
October 4, 1957
Autumn
A hint of fall in the air
What a day!
Home!
Cirque de Soleil
“Gave proof through the night”
EN-ER-giz-ing …
Pretend friend
Cockroach letter
Sunday
Oral Spelling Bee
9 ladies dancing …
Registered trademark
Meme?
Christmas carol basics
Snowed in (sort of)
Lights
Just moosin’ around …
Spelling Bee screener
Brigadoon?
Not till after dessert …
November …
“Life” by Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1922
A bookish day
Charles Martin’s books
“children of all ages”
CU Band Day
Fall into Reading update
First full day of fall
Fall into Reading
Unnecessary quotation marks
Busybusybusy day …
The system …
Celebratory mood!
First day …
Supper with friends
Youthful exuberance?
Kitty grass
Sharp crayons, new spirals …
Songs and choices
Camp songs
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