Last night after dinner we headed over to Boomer Lake (a mile from where we live) for the yearly "Boomer Blast" fireworks show. The Lions Club hosts this display every year and the entire city is invited to enjoy it free-of-charge. At twilight the grassy banks fill up with families and friends who either bring coolers and lawn chairs, or who simply sit on the ground, some with blankets and some not. We were of the not variety...Last year the fireworks were called off on account of rain, and by the time they did fire them off in time for the state's centennial the following November (brrr), we really didn't care. We ended up watching them from our yard, though. This year's show was great! They always shoot the fireworks from one of the several peninsulas that jut out onto the lake, but this year there were two groups, each on its own peninsula. They were beautifully synchronized and nearly the entire show was as busy as a finale. Some of the burning ashes fell not four feet out into the water from where we sat. I tell you, the Canadian geese were not happy.
Every year, I wish that we could bring wine to the lake. In California, at the Ventura County Symphony's yearly 4th of July concert, held at Libbey Bowl in Ojai, everyone seated on the lawn section used to set up coolers as a little tables on picnic blankets, complete with candle jars and small vases of flowers. Everyone brought elegant picnic food and wine, and we mingled with each other as Frank conducted the orchestra in pieces like Mozart's "Prague" symphony while little white lights hung from the ancient oak trees and stars sparkled in the sky.
I miss that artsy-fartsy crap.
Still, I loves me a good fireworks show and last night provided a great one. Did you go see any?
Photos by Lauren Weaver
