Fireworks under the Arch

Wow, what an incredible evening!!!!  I have lived in Granite City over 50 years and tonight was my first time to actually go to the St. Louis Independence Day Fireworks Show.  For years I've tried to get the men in my life to take me but it was always the same; they were saying too much traffic, too many people, too much noise, blah, blah, blah.  While I was thinking, yes, wonderful sounds, smells and sights.  What a terrific chance to watch people, listen to free live music and be so close that I can smell the explosive powder as the fire works explode in glorious colors.

Hooray, Darrell ask me to go before I had a chance to do my usual begging.  He even thanked me because he loves to go and couldn't find anyone to go with him. 

All of my senses were going haywire as I walked from the Metro Link toward the sea of humanity.  Thousands and thousands of people pressed up against me, walking toward our destination, the stage set up under the St. Louis Arch where Jimmy Gentry and his band were singing country western songs about this great land that I am so fortunate to live in.  Everywhere I looked there was another interesting person.  My head was swiveling all around trying to take everything in.  One woman had seven small children holding hands like a long chain telling them to never let go.  A group of young black boys, shirtless, laughing and pushing each other playfully.  Small children looking up at me with big eyes, both scared and excited at the same time.  A woman with the brightest apple red hair I have ever seen in a skin tight rainbow colored dress and gold stilettos.  I swear, when I first saw her from a distance, I thought she was a clown - Wrong!.  Big beer bellies hanging naked over droopy shorts.  Bodies covered in exotic tattoos.  Black, white, Asian and Latino were all represented there.  What a wonderful country with so much diversity.

By 9 PM. the tension was getting thick.  Everyone was anxious to witness St. Louis' tribute to this great nation's independence, the fireworks spectacular.  Finally at 9:20 P.M. we heard the first crack and saw a shooting light lift off from the barge positioned in the middle of the Mississippi River.  All eyes follow the light upward and yelled as the first rocket exploded into a shower of red, green and silver stars that fell gracefully back down to us.  The rockets continued for 20 to 30 minutes.  20 to 30 minutes of ecstasy.  We were so close I could feel the explosion in my chest and then I felt as if the colors were coming down to wrap themselves around me like my grandmother's old patch work quilt, safe, warm and oh so happy.  I looked up at Darrell and with my eyes told him thank you.  Thank you for yet another wonderful experience.  Why did I wait so long?  No longer will I wait.  If no one is willing to get out and experience all life has to offer I will do it alone.  What have I got to fear?