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the rockets' red glare
Jul. 4th, 2004 10:11 pmI hate fireworks.
My physical need to avoid flashing lights imposes a curfew, this time of year. For all practical purposes, there are fireworks everywhere, from sunset onward. Except when it's overcast and starts before sunset. There are about 2 weeks in late June and early July when it's really bad, and then the rest of the summer when it tapers down to only occasional little displays in small parks and private yards. Fireworks bother me more than the flashing lights on police cars or firetrucks. Partly because they're overhead and it's so hard to hide from them. Partly because they seem so wildly unnecessary. Partly because there are just so many of them, and the noise is so scary.
Friday night, I was safe in a friend's apartment in Somerville, having a very pleasant Shabbat dinner, when the fireworks started. I've walked alone through Teele Square hundreds of times. It's not a good neighborhood, but I'm not afraid of it. Except when I hear what sounds like frequent gunshots. Except when I remember how many people have been killed in Cambridge and Somerville this year. Including one last week. (Even if that was a knife fight.) Lingering over dinner until I thought most of the fireworks would be over meant walking home after the East Arlington streetlights had been turned off, which was kind of scary.
Now I'm in my apartment. I have the blinds closed, but I can still see fireworks. They're blinds, not heavy curtains. I can still hear the explosions. It's after 11, and they've been going on since before 8. It's loud enough, and distracting enough, that I don't think I can sleep through it. I can sleep while a baby screams in the next room, if I know someone else is taking care of the baby. Getting used to that took about 4 days. This is different. More shocking.
My physical need to avoid flashing lights imposes a curfew, this time of year. For all practical purposes, there are fireworks everywhere, from sunset onward. Except when it's overcast and starts before sunset. There are about 2 weeks in late June and early July when it's really bad, and then the rest of the summer when it tapers down to only occasional little displays in small parks and private yards. Fireworks bother me more than the flashing lights on police cars or firetrucks. Partly because they're overhead and it's so hard to hide from them. Partly because they seem so wildly unnecessary. Partly because there are just so many of them, and the noise is so scary.
Friday night, I was safe in a friend's apartment in Somerville, having a very pleasant Shabbat dinner, when the fireworks started. I've walked alone through Teele Square hundreds of times. It's not a good neighborhood, but I'm not afraid of it. Except when I hear what sounds like frequent gunshots. Except when I remember how many people have been killed in Cambridge and Somerville this year. Including one last week. (Even if that was a knife fight.) Lingering over dinner until I thought most of the fireworks would be over meant walking home after the East Arlington streetlights had been turned off, which was kind of scary.
Now I'm in my apartment. I have the blinds closed, but I can still see fireworks. They're blinds, not heavy curtains. I can still hear the explosions. It's after 11, and they've been going on since before 8. It's loud enough, and distracting enough, that I don't think I can sleep through it. I can sleep while a baby screams in the next room, if I know someone else is taking care of the baby. Getting used to that took about 4 days. This is different. More shocking.
