And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air...

As I sat on my pretentious lanai, this past Saturday evening, I watched as colors lit the sky. They reflected off the water of the lake, upside-down mirror images of the explosions above. Scared of the sounds, my sixty-pound American bulldog wedged her body between mine and the mound of pillows, head on my lap. I began to contemplate as the show progressed…how many veterans who have fought for freedom were also feeling the same. Bursts of light emit gun-shot sounds, a resonating noise over air and ground.

The finale was spectacular - the dark sky blown bright with all the rainbow's colors, in arches and wide lines. As the deafening noise became silent, billows of smoke began rising from the rooftops - dark clouds of deep grey slowly ascending.

On July 3, 1776, John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, only hours after the Continental Congress voted for the independence of the American colonies. Did you read that date? In it, he stated, "The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the History of America." Did you catch it that time? It was actually July 2nd, not 4th, that independence was declared, or at least voted upon. So, why the 4th as "Independence Day?" This was that day that the official document, our "Declaration of Independence" was finished and signed, then printed and spread through the colonies.

In the letter, John Adams also told his wife: "By pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations from one end of the continent to the other." Albeit early, due to the 4th falling on a Wednesday this year, that evening's display definitely checked off Adam's final wish…or did it? When news spread through the colonies, American's rang bells, lit great bonfires, fired their guns, and illuminated their windows with candles. Interesting that the illumination here is with candles, not exploding fireworks. Of course, present day pyro technology was not in existence at that point, unless you could the crude explosives used on July 4, 1777. Amidst the war for Independence still raging, 13 of these were sent skyward, one for each colony.

If we followed the tradition of the first anniversary, we would be observing fifty fireworks - more of a reverent, yet celebratory scale. I wasn't counting Saturday night, but there were at least double that amount exploding in the sky. Three interesting facts about our nation's fourth of July fireworks: 1. Ninety-nine percent of the fireworks purchased are from China. 2. The US spends over a billion dollars in fireworks - a BILLION! 3. Seventy-seven percent of male injuries in July are due to fireworks - burns, blinding, hearing loss, lost digits or limbs.

To summarize these three - over a billion dollars are spent, 99% of which goes to another country's pocket, and lots of people get hurt - I must (sarcastically) say, sounds super patriotic to me! In all seriousness, though - Happy Fourth Of July, the official signing and sending of our country's Declaration of Independence! Stay safe with the pyros and have fun!