USA

Happy Birthday, America! Over 200 years ago a handful of feisty colonists declared independence from Great Britain, thus beginning many years of the blood, sweat and tears it takes to establish a new country. I, for one, am proud of our country, despite the messiness involved in maintaining a democracy. As long as I stay away from too much current media, I remain optimistic about the wonders and goodness of America.

In our state, fireworks are a legal way to celebrate the birth of our country and nothing says Fourth of July like the snap, crackle and pop of pyrotechnics. Growing up on a farm meant there were no restrictions when it came to fireworks, except for the the cost. We were limited to a certain amount but that did not dampen our enthusiasm. Our selections usually fell into five categories.

1) Firecrackers--These were the backbone of all the other fireworks. There were all sorts to choose from including the small "little kid" poppers and, of course, the big guns called Black Cats. Only my older brother was allowed to handle the Black Cats. I guess he was the expendable one.

2) Bottle Rockets--My husband gets wistful and dreamy-eyed when I mention bottle rockets. Apparently, he and his buddies orchestrated all sorts of activities involving the projectile boomers. Bottle rocket battles were the most popular. No rules necessary, just aim the rocket to fall as close to your friends as possible, preferably avoiding their eyeballs. Shooting the rockets toward water always created interesting underwater explosions. Sorry, fishies. Rumor has it that occasionally bottle rockets and amphibians were "connected". We'll leave it at that.

3) Sparklers--Who doesn't love to write their name on the dark canvas of night with a brightly colored, sparky wand? Sparklers are a short-lived burst of fun enjoyed by young and old. They were reasonably priced so it is a win-win.

4) Mish-Mash--There were always a few novelty items that created great interest. Snakes fall into this category. Light a fuse and watch a smudgy, smoky, stinky snake emerge. (Pro-tip: Avoid doing this on the sidewalk unless you like black spots on your concrete.) Pagodas were another curiosity. Light the fuse and watch colorful sparks fly from a cardboard pagoda. The combination of Oriental intrigue and mixing cardboard with sparks made for a delightful experience.

5) Ooh-Aah producers--If the pocketbook was a little more generous, a few aerial fireworks were selected. They had names such as Pearls of Color or USA Splendor. Frankly, the set-up and firing-up often took longer than the actual display but that did not dampen our spirits. The anticipation of something loud and colorful was all part of the fun. We called these the grand finale, even if the grand was a bit tepid.

I hope you had a good Fourth of July, fireworks or not. It is not too late to throw a few hot dogs on the grill, stir up a batch of baked beans and dish up your favorite potato salad. Every day can be red-white-and-blue day.