The post where I ramble about fire and stuff.

So today we were back at school. Something told me it was a good thing, though. Last night, I couldn't sleep because my mind was racing...and my teeth hurt like the dickens and I kept praying, please, God let it be a snow day. And I asked myself...why is that so important? That I veg out the entire day. How is that productive. I thought about how God has a plan for everything. Maybe there was a reason we went to school today. A reason not for me, but for someone else? I don't know. Anyway.

All of my friends are pining for summer. It's ironic, but I've never really done that. My birthday and all my favorite things are in the summer. But I've never looked out the window and sighed, wishing it were summer. There are some pretty great things about summer. Youthfront camp, swimming, CYT camp, family vacations, my fourth of July birthday, and fireworks.

I think I like things that blow up more than the average girl should. But the fact of the matter is, I don't get to do it very often, so when my birthday rolls around I'm all, "Can we just, like, set everything on fire...now?"

Summer means long days under the fireworks tent in my church's parking lot. I love walking around the tent looking at all the fireworks, large to small. I like to hold them in my hand and think about how if you simply near a match towards this little (or large) box, it becomes something completely different. A butterfly, bursting from a cardboard cocoon.

Its life is brief. But its memory is lasting.

Everyone remembers a good firework show.

Especially when you do it with people you love. I can't tell you how bonding it was when an artillery shell burst early when it was still in the tube, and my dad was walking up the driveway. We call that instance "The Peacock"

Or when we set off this firework called "The Titanic" which was almost freaky realistic as the boat shaped firework broke in two, and sunk into the ground. We all just stood in awe, watching it really quiet as it when down.

Or when a rogue firework shot off toward Kathy's neighbor's shed. We weren't really sure where that one was going to go...but it worked out ok.

And when fifteen minutes later, when we were shifting through the explosive pile, and a kid asked me "Hey, which ones are the ones that, you know, shoot off towards you?" I bet you HE remembers that fourth of July.

One day, I will convince my parents that we should buy the 300 dollar "King of the Block" firework set. But until then, I shall settle for Happinesses, Ground Flowers, Artillery shells, and Garden Showers. The memories that come with them are priceless.