I just heard from one of Art's cousins that her house was nearly burned on the 4th of July. She and her husband spent the night hosing down their house while the fires burned in Kalama Valley. Their son took this photo. Art says he heard something about it in the news, but didn't realize his cousin's house was so close to the fire. In fact, their neighbors were out for the evening so the cousins were hosing down their neighbors' houses as well. The fires, of course, were caused by fireworks.In our neighborhood, at around 11:30 PM somebody detonated a bomb. I swear it was a bomb! It was so loud, it shook our house and AT LEAST a half dozen cars in the street had their security alarms go off from the vibration.
I'm so mad about it! What idiots! How does this make it fun for anybody? What makes them think this is the way to celebrate the 4th?
Hmmm.... I'm just noticing that my posts are taking a downward turn. I need to find something happy to write about! Sheesh!
I'm not even going to write about Governor Lingle vetoing the Civil Unions bill... nope not a word...
POSTSCRIPT: Ooops! I'm noticing (from comments) that people are thinking our cousins' house burned. It didn't. They were spared, but it certainly gave them some frightening moments. Their neighbors' homes were also OK, and I hope they are grateful for the cousins working so hard hosing their houses down.
I am always thankful that there will be no brush fires where I live, because there is no brush.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if the house next to mine burns, our house could very well burn also.
That's sad about your relative's house burning. I hope the Red Cross is helping that family with clothes, food, and shelter!
Fire: that's my worst nightmare!
I would so love to see fireworks banned from the earth. I have no patience with all that. It's beyond me how that could be fun.
ReplyDeleteI thought, 'what a spectacularly beautiful photograph' -- until I read what it was! I thought it was the volcano or something.
ReplyDeleteFireworks are legal here, and the whole city was shaking with them on the fourth. I'll admit I was half-hoping that one would land on our house and burn it so I could have a new house (shame on me, I know, but...)
You're right, nothing stops these things, no matter how many homes and limbs and lives are lost -- it's ridiculous.
(I'm glad you said 'nothing' about Lingle's veto, because any comment I'd make about THAT decision wouldn't be polite at all!)
:-P
The bombs are not a celebration. They are an indulgence, usually by young 'kids' who may be as old as you and I. Their value, to their builders, is ingrained as a part of the general mayhem and excitement that comes from illicit and covert activity that borders the paramilitary. Hijinx for weekend warriors without having to put in any real payment, no huddling in foxholes, no real exposure to danger, no going for days without food or comforts, no armed conflict. Organized, safe mayhem. It's marketable.
ReplyDeleteWho's Lingle? What veto??
your cousin,
walt
What sad news about your cousin's home and the fires. What is wrong with people? I guess they don't know the laws about fireworks or how to use them safely! We do have laws here in Maine regarding fireworks but one always reads that someone lost a finger or a child was burned by illegal fireworks. Ban them all I say!
ReplyDeleteGigi: Their house didn't burn down. They were fine. If they weren't, we'd most certainly have them come and stay with us. That's the nice thing about living here. There's a lot of relatives who would try to help.
ReplyDeleteEverybody: They've been trying to ban fireworks for the last 30+ years. I've given up that hope. I've got friends with emphysema who really suffer from the polluted firecracker air. And the dogs? Oh dear! I feel awful for them.
What a nasty experience to end a day of fun with serious problems.
ReplyDeleteGlad it turned out all right.
'Big bang' fireworks have been banned now in UK, thank goodness. Some of them were horrendously loud - where's the fun in deafening everyone?
That photo and your picture in words are both very scary. Glad it ended well.
ReplyDeleteHere the fireworks are used for Arab wedding celebrations. Several nights a month we hear them and see the glow from the villages just over the next ridge of hills. And Israel has been suffering from many big brush/forest fires this summer.
So no, I don't like them either. Too dangerous.
Well, you certainly know how I feel about fireworks. Glad everyone is okay.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like being close to fireworks...scary and careless people sometimes
ReplyDeleteFireworks are banned here in our suburban town and the neighboring one as well, but that doesn't prevent folks from blowing things up anyway. One local man was severaly injured from a bomb he made out of sparklers!
ReplyDeleteIdiots always ruin the fun.
We're pretty fortunate here in Seattle as fireworks are pretty controlled and for the most part only the fireworks show from the harbor is allowed! There are always some who do it anyway, but fortunately nothing major! Glad your cousins didn't lose their house! Hope you have a great weekend, Kay!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
exciting times...everyone everywhere worried about fireworks and fire!
ReplyDeleteI hear you Kay about the fireworks! They are so dangerous-not only because they can cause a fire but they also can hurt people. Every year so many people have firework related injuries because of the way they handle fireworks. Lucky for us this year everyone in our neighborhood seemed to be away and it was relatively quiet. Thank goodness Art's cousins house was spared!
ReplyDeleteGlad their house was safe..I really hate the 4th of July fireworks as everyone goes and buys them legally in PA because they are illegal in NY....
ReplyDelete