The summer sunset had just begun and the 50 or so friends, family, and neighbors that had filled every crevice of my house and index card sized yard began to make their half a block pilgrimage to the waterfront. We discussed stroller versus wagon options and then abandoned wheeled transportation all together for hand holding and piggy back rides. My daughter’s three year old hand clutched mine. “Mommy, I’m scared.” “Do you not want to go sweets? We can stay home and just listen from the house.” “No mommy, I want to see the fireworks. Do you think they will have purple ones?” “They will surely have purple ones,” I smiled and gave her small knuckles an even smaller squeeze. I could see my husband just up ahead, my son perched on his shoulders, keeping in step with my brothers-in law, everyone happy and full of barbecue and beer. Before the explosions of color shadowed our faces, conversations spontaneously began between neighbors and strangers, all content to wait at the curb for our annual July 3rd celebration. I sat sweetly satisfied, my daughters weight snug in lap, thinking how lucky we were to have this.
In our modern world, there are far too few Mayberry moments. Sure, there are probably places west, north and south of our tri-state area that have a consistent small town feel, but here on the Jersey shore, where people out number parking spots per square mile, we ironically lack a sense of community. However, once a year, the citizens of my borough come together as a town, to enjoy a fireworks show whose lingering glow rivals a stadium full of cell phones during “Never Say Goodbye” at a Bon Jovi concert. That is, until this year.
For the past 10 years, I have celebrated my town’s long standing tradition of fireworks over The Navesink River on July 3rd with true and somewhat surprising patriotism. Surely for the first six of those ten years I, perhaps, contributed to the rowdier more rebel raising side of the this event, but for the last four, it has been a true red, white and blue family affair. Now, for the first time since 1959, there will be no KaBoom. [Read more...]
