Thoughts From Fireworks

I was laying on a blanket, sweating like a pig while having ash dumped on me while probably damaging my hearing by subjecting it to loud crashes and booms continuously. I was thinking about how I live in an awesome country where we celebrate by blowing things up and (because I’m a big patriotic sap) how proud I am to be an American.
As the booms vibrated in my chest and I had to squint my eyes because of the brightness of the Grand Finale I shouted to my friend “There’s nothing quite like being here!”
And it’s true.
You know how on July 5th all the newspapers will have a big front page picture of the fireworks display from the night before? The picture will be all smoky and not at all a true representation of the dazzling beauty.
Or even the night of the actual holiday they televise the display from D.C. of NYC for people who are too lazy to actually go outside and look up, and that’s not the same. Even the magic of television doesn’t even come close to making you feel like you’re there. It’s something in the tantalizing fear of explosions being set off right over your head that just doesn’t compute through electronic images.
I guess there’s just something special about a bunch of people sitting outside staring at the sky together late at night that’s magical and unique and can only really be experienced by viewing it first hand, nothing else will do.
While I was “Oooo!!” and “Ahhh!”-ing tonight I had the thought that people are a lot like firecrackers. In the grand expanse of time we are but a snap crackle and pop across the sky, we’re all different colors, and although some linger, we all fade after a time.
And just like pictures and video of firecrackers, only those watching us in person ever see our true beauty, only they will feel our heat and have their hearts moved by us.
We never see our true selves, only reflections, and yet we place so much importance in those weak and flawed reflections.

We will never know what it’s quite like, being there, watching our own self as we glow brighter than the sun.