Happy July Fourth?

Although I’m most grateful that I live in the land of the free and home of the brave and I truly honor and respect all those in harms way fighting for those freedoms, I’m just not feeling patriotic this year because of all the stupidity that’s being wavered by our government across this great land of ours. It’s also hard to get excited about America, when we as a country turn our backs to the many countries that don’t even enjoy basic human rights. But, I suppose that I can’t change the world in one day, and I do love a good BBQ with friends and a spectacular display of fireworks.

Sporting my very unpatriotic outfit of black and pink and armored with a few good bottles of wine and apple pie, I happily venture over to some very dear friends house with Colin and Matt in tow. They had a fantastic spread of appetizers, corn on the cob, salads, cornbread and wonderfully BBQ’d ribs. Good company too, with lots of fellow Cub Scout families and other nice neighbors we met. It was shaping up to be a nice mellow celebration, just what I was in the mood for.

The kids were so excited to get started on fireworks and since we had a huge stash of ammunition that was going to last a long time, we finally broke down and let that part of the evening start around 9pm. Smoke bombs, sparklers, roman candles, some pretty mortar shells, all lovely, safe and sane. Just towards the end of our fireworks fest as we were enjoying what we dubbed our grand finale, things started to turn. A different neighbor that was not part of our group decides to light off a big box type charge that was supposed to shoot mortars into the sky. After he lit the fuse, the box tipped over so it shot the fireworks out the side. One charge went straight toward another house, one barely missed our friend and host, and some others landed underneath the cars that were parked in the driveway. Everyone started screaming and running for either cover or for their children.

Once we determined that no one was hurt, we immediately hosed down the truck that the shells had landed under. As the crisis was unfolding and I was trying to process what was happening, I had envisioned vehicles blowing up much like I've seen in the movies. It was terrifying! Everyone was pretty shaken up.

After a few minutes and a few deep breaths, we collected our thoughts, said our prayers, changed our underwear and resumed the festivities. Then, the unthinkable happened. That same neighbor lit another one of the same type of firework that went crazy, and that one did the very same thing, only this time it caused injuries along with the panic. I couldn’t believe it when it started shooting shells into the group of kids. I was running to find Colin and all I heard was Matt yelling at the top of his lungs to turn the water on. Luckily I had collected some sense and was near the water faucet. Immediately after that I found Matt dowsing Colin’s forearm with water and I could see a powder burn mark. Now, I’m freaking out, so much that I don’t even realize that Lillan, 6 years old, got burned on her shoulder, and Kelcie, 12 years old, got burned right next to her eye.

I was trying so hard not to panic and help Colin control his panic attack. (Getting hit by fireworks is not good for kids with generalized anxiety disorder.) However, all my mind could see was 3rd degree burns and paramedics, not to mention cars blowing up again. Matt, bless his heart, was the cool, calm and collect parent and later I appreciated his taking control although not before wanting to wring his neck for not wanting to take Colin to the ER. I was not the only mother that went into maternal panic, as Ellen wanted seriously to call the Fire Dept or Police or somebody, for goodness sake!

Three ice packs and a few rounds of Ibuprofen later, we realized that the burns weren’t serious and that they would heal just fine. Now whether all of our psyches would heal or not still remained a question. And, I think it’s going to take some time because afterwards we all would jump every time we saw fireworks being set off. Colin also repeated many times that he now hated fireworks and that he was never going to do them again as long as he lived. Now, granted it was a bit dramatic, but I couldn’t agree with him more. I’m now convinced to leaving the firework launching to the professionals.

What’s even more amazing was that Kelcie ended up getting hit again with another firework when everybody was cleaning up and going home. She was helping one of the ladies pack her van with some of the baby things she had brought and she got hit with a wayward bottle rocket. We have no idea where it came from or who was still shooting off fireworks because everyone in their cul-de-sac was done and sweeping up the carnage. Poor girl! Her nerves were completely shattered after that.

So, Happy Fourth of July? I think not! I say Happy Fifth of July! Thank God the Fourth is over!