All They Were Missing Was An 80's Tribute Band

This 4th was interesting. Interesting meaning, wow at all the fire works that went off pretty much non stop on that day.  I live in a very *surreally beautiful* rural area, just north east of Seattle. It is apparently legal for people to set off fireworks around here. Now, I've lived in rural areas before, where we were free to set off those lovely explosions, but here they can obtain really cheap fireworks from the Indian Reservations, some of them quite illegal and VERY loud. What occurred Thursday, sounded nothing less than a war zone. I mean, if it wasn't the 4th, I would have thought we were being invaded. The artillery like booming went on solid, from about 5pm to 2am. I wasn't annoyed, just amazed. The people around here sure LOVE their fireworks.

My neighbors across the creek have been having a party since Friday. Most of us along the creek have fire pits and they are put to regular use. It's very common to smell the smell of burning wood and to hear music drifting along the evening breeze. It's not annoying, it's just something we expect.  But what occurred this weekend was pretty epic. I think I should have gotten an idea of what I was in for, when I heard the first blaring strains of  Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "Relax"  Friday afternoon. My next clue should have been the plethora of lights they were zigzagging along their backyard. Holy Hannah they partied like it was the end of the world. If the end of days truly comes, that is how I want to go out.

Finally, this morning, there is peace and quiet. Just the smoldering remnants of the pit fire and debris littering their yard. It kind of looks like the aftermath of a music festival. The only things they lacked were a live band and port-o-potties.  I'll admit I was a wee bit jealous, these people were mostly my age and it looked like hellah fun. And the smell of grilled meat put me in a constant state of drool. I'm still salivating, thinking about that meat. Give me a moment...

The pace of life here is different. Not that Washington or Arkansas are better or worse, it's just different. When it's nice, people spend every moment they can outside. It's a new experience for me to enjoy being outdoors during the summer. After suffering the horrid summers of the south, this milder climate seems to suit me very well.

I've adapted pretty seamlessly to my new life. I get my urban, metro fix on the weekends and enjoy the nice country life during most of the week. I'm good with that. It's like I have the best of both worlds. And though I doubt I will ever have a party like the one that occurred across the creek, I can still hope, right? Party on Garth.