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Fourth of July in Dallas
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The Fourth of July is rapidly approaching. I see the merchandise on the store shelves becoming more “red, white, and blue” everyday. Flags, candles, banners, deck lighting, shirts…anything a person could ever need to properly show their Independence Day patriotism, except fireworks. .jpg)
Alas, we live in Plano and as any of us in the Dallas area know; the fireworks must be left to the pros. Those multi-million dollar displays the cities show on the Fourth, give or take a few days, are spectacular to say the least. I mean really, who wants to be out in the middle of an arid field getting devoured by mosquitoes while you grip a small personal-sized explosive in your hand, light it, then run like crazy because you just never know if it is going to be a “dud” or end up shooting 100 mph in your direction…. Wait, that actually does sound a little fun if I remember correctly. In fact, my fifteen year old would rather take his chances with the buy-one-get-one-free fireworks sold on the side of the road in the country, than waste his time watching the municipal displays, grand as they are. I certainly could not blame him. I grew up in Oklahoma, and the Fourth of July meant lemonade, cookouts, and sparklers that would not light. That moment right after you have lit the fuse of a “ground flower bloom” and run to a safe distance, only to turn around and see NOTHING happening. Do you dare try to re-light it? Oh, the adrenaline and fear! Now THAT is Independence Day!
As a grown up, I can appreciate the art of sitting back and letting the pros handle everything. So, even though my son has high-tailed it to spend the holiday with my parents who live in a rural Oklahoma (legal fireworks) town, we will be here in the city taking in the fruits of our taxes. All I have to do is look up. The downside, of course, is the traffic afterward. A few years ago, a rainstorm hit right after the first fireworks explosion at Addison’s Kaboom Town. Along with millions of other spectators, I had to evacuate in a hurry with a baby in a Cadillac of a stroller and my son with one of his buddies. It was so unexpected; I did not have a chance to go potty before we left. I spent two dancing-in-my-seat hours just waiting to get out of the parking garage and another tear-filled hour driving the three miles back to my own bathroom, I mean house. Had it not been the fear of my son’s friend reporting me to his parents, or maybe the fear of losing my spot in the car exit line, I would have squatted behind an obliging SUV. I was so jealous of my daughter’s diaper, and do not think for a minute my thoughts did not drift longingly to her diaper bag! I spent over eight years in the United States Navy, I am relatively sure that sitting in three hours of traffic is required in order to show patriotism.
So, with all of my holiday baggage in mind, I will tell you my newfound solution for the Fourth. We still enjoy the Kaboom Town fireworks, but we take a backpack full of snacks and an old blanket to my son’s old elementary school. We tune a portable radio to 100.3 Jack FM to hear the choreographed music. The view is not as unobstructed as being right down in Addison Circle, but my four year old daughter gets to play on the playground under the backdrop of old war planes and fireworks (without the scary “booms”), and when it is over we are home reading bed-time stories before most others have even made it back to their cars. We even wear patriotic shirts and stand for the National Anthem. Be sure to check out the links below to find some fireworks displays near you. If you go, have fun. If you get stuck in traffic, I will be sure and have a glass of wine in your honor. That is American red wine, of course. Happy Fourth of July Dallas!
For more info:
Town Mall- for a listing of all Dallas area fireworks and Fourth of July celebrations
Kaboom Town
Jack FM 100.3
KRLD AM 1080
A Capitol Fourth (PBS)
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