Fantastic Fourth (err...Third)

I have very distinct memories of going to see fireworks on the Fourth of July as a kid.  I remember laying out on the Indian blanket, looking up at a black summer sky, leaning on my Dad while colors and sounds filled the air.  Fourth of July was always one of my two or three favorite holidays.  

When Isaac was born we were very careful with his schedule and as a result I haven't see fireworks in five years, probably the longest stretch since I was a kid.  He generally sleeps very well, so we weren't about to test Fate.  But he turned five last month and I figured it was time.  The original plan was to go see fireworks on the 4th in Pepperell, but the weatherman told us that might not be a good idea.  So after a full day at Davis Farmland, including closing down the giant hillside slide, Dad and Isaac powered up for a 10 PM rendezvous with Fitchburg's July 3rd show. 

Staying up was quite a trick as this was well past Isaac's normal bedtime, which is around 8.  We told him that we'd try and if he were still up at 9 we'd ride in to downtown Fitchburg and find a spot.  At 7:32 he  looked at me and said "Still awake."  At 8:09 he looked at me and said "Still awake."  And again at 8:12, 8:32, and 8:47.  At that point we grabbed some stuff--a blanket, a bag of snacks, and a few flashlights and hopped on the bike.

Isaac is fascinated with midnight and generally anything that happens after his bedtime.  He was particularly thrilled with the idea of STARTING an adventure after Mom and Ethan went upstairs to go to bed.  As we were riding down the hill into Fitchburg he was asking me how many people were asleep by now--hundreds, thousands, millions?  I told him the true but deceptive answer that millions were asleep.  

We arrived in downtown Fitchburg to find a full on block party. It was a little louder and a bit wilder than similar celebrations in Ohio (though with less pot smoke than the Yellowsprings Fireworks).  We found a nice grassy spot in front a bank and settled in.  We had about 20 minutes until the show started and Isaac was...um...impatient.  I did, however, turn this into an advantage and started to teach him how to tell time.  

As the fireworks started realized we'd have to move, which was a good thing, as Isaac had almost fallen asleep.  In the end we were on a bridge over the Nashua River watching colored explosive blossoms fill the night sky.  Isaac asked about the colors and the shapes and the sounds.  He wanted to know about how to predict big fireworks (generally, the louder the launch sound, the bigger the explosion...the launch mortar needs to be bigger to push the larger firework package).  We talked about how different chemicals were added to make different colors and about which were our favorites.  We also talked about how dangerous fireworks were and how they were basically small bombs.  

After a few minutes I told him that he needed to be ready for the Grand Finale.  He asked me what it was and I told him that it was the end of the show where they shot off a lot of fireworks in quick sequence.  He asked me with each subsequent explosion if that was, in fact, the Grand Finale.  I told him the classic Dad answer: you'll know when you see it, you won't even have to ask.

After about twenty minutes, the grand finale went off and Isaac was literally jumping up and down.  We hopped on the bike and made our way home (which, incidentally, is up hill both ways, which is not as complicated as it sounds, your destination just needs to be on the other side of a hill).  I was peppered with hundreds more questions.  He asked how big the biggest firework is, how big the biggest show is, if he could draw fireworks, and what would an ICBM firework look like (remember, I told him they were basically small bombs).  

We arrived home with Dad sweaty and Isaac finally a bit tired.  I took him off the bike and sat him down on the front steps.  He looked at me for a moment and I told him: "I will never forget this day, buddy."  Without saying a word he smiled, leaned in, and hugged me.  I took him upstairs, put him in his bed and he was asleep before I shut the door. He slept through the night and woke up at his normal time, maybe a few minutes later. 

What a day.