July 1954, Lake Merit,
Oakland, California
I don’t
know why but I can’t remember ever seeing fireworks before July 4, 1954; just sparklers and
firecrackers. Maybe there was no special reason for me to remember other
fireworks.
Two days earlier
Richard had returned from Korea
and this was our first ever holiday together.
I remember,
not so much the fireworks but walking hand-in-hand along the sidewalk, joining
others on their way to the lake. I remember friendly, smiling people milling on
the beach and the soft, balmy breeze. I remember my husband’s arms around me
pulling me gently against him as we stood among the crowd, enjoying the riotous
color. Watching the last explosive starbursts, hearing the final pop and
sizzle, surrounded by darkness we slowly became aware of the now muted voices
fading into the distance.
Hand-in-hand
we hurried home eager to make our own fireworks.
April 1986, Long Beach, California
That day I
had attended seminars aboard the Queen Mary. It was only 9:30 but my body was on Minnesota time and I was tired. From my bed
at the Breakers Hotel I heard boom after boom after boom. I climbed out of bed
and looked out the window but saw nothing unusual. The booms continued for
about fifteen or twenty minutes.
The second
night at 9:30 the booms
started again and looking outside left me wondering still. Just what was going
on?
The third
night I attended a cocktail party on a small craft cruising the bay. At 9:30, as we sailed past the Queen
Mary, the booms began—fireworks coming from what had once been the most
luxurious ocean liner in the world. The grand finale was a spectacular canopy
of exploding color above an amazing white waterfall flowing off the bow of the
old Queen into the Pacific Ocean.
The next
day I flew home feeling fortunate to have seen the Queen Mary and the
unforgettable fireworks.
By Rachel Nemitz
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