My love/hate relationship with fireworks

About 4 years ago my relationship with fireworks changed.

Growing up in California, we never bought or lit fireworks of our own, but some of my favorite childhood memories involve 4th of July festivities.

Fireworks were something we enjoyed while sitting at the park, wrapped in blankets to shield us from the cold Bay Area air.

Then I got married and moved to Washington, where you could more easily buy fireworks.

And Aleks and I did and had a few experiences lighting them off in deserted parking lots with friends.

The pops and booms throughout the nights leading up to the fourth of July were just a mild annoyance.

In 2009 it all changed.

I had a colicky, 3 month old baby who never slept and if she was roused from slumber, it took hours of work to get her back to sleep.

I remember lying in bed, 2 nights before the 4th of July, (severely sleep deprived) and my heart raced with each explosion as our neighbors lit off what must have been hundreds of dollars of fireworks in our cul-de-sac. 

We looked up the curfew laws and counted down the minutes until we could ask them to stop (of course, they stopped before they had to).

Last night the celebrations here began in ernest. 

I had just come upstairs to read in bed for awhile and the booms and ka-bangs were getting louder.

No sooner had I opened up my iPad, than I heard a little voice next to my bed say "there's loud noises outside. I want to be with you."

Little Ruby, half asleep, climbed into bed, and curled up into my side.

Ruby sleeps in our bed quite often and many times it's a nuisance.

But in this moment, the heaviness of her head on my shoulder and the featherlight drape of her arm across my ribs, caused me to send up a quick prayer: "May she always feel safe with me."

This fourth of July we're headed to San Diego to celebrate with Aleks' extended family. It's been a long time since we've seen some of these people and it will be good to reconnect.

Our plan is to let the girls stay up and see the fireworks. 

However, they'll still be on central time, so it could quite possibly turn into tantrums and/or early bed.

We shall see.

At any rate, memory making is just a day away.

I told the girls that while we are in San Diego we are going to spend as much time outside as possible.

It looks like the average temps are in the mid-70's all week.

I can feel the tension already draining away.

Throwback to July 4th 2011

I hope your 4th is filled with family, fun, fireworks, AND good rest.

It is possible right?!