July 5, 2008 -- Fireworks Bay Center style

One of the first questions we asked when we arrived here in Bay Center was "where should we go to see fireworks?". The response was "drive about an hour over to the Long Beach peninsula to the boardwalk at Long Beach." And so that is what we had planned.
However, yesterday dawned overcast, cold, and awful. So we kept putting off our leaving time, knowing so long as we left here by 8:30 we could probably see some fireworks. Then the rains came for most of the day and it never ever cleared and it was damned cold (high 40s) by about 5pm. So we got more and more disappointed and finally decided to watch fireworks on TV and vowed not to be too sad about it.
We started to watch the Macy's firework spectacular, which had some of the worst musical talent we'd ever heard and so switched to PBS with a show from Washington DC. That's when it started.
We have called Bay Center "Paxton on the Pacific" since it's a small town of several hundred people. However, unlike Paxton (which is in central Illinois and has a fabulous first national bank), most folks here have some kind of view of the water where some of them work raising oysters or harvesting crab. Also unlike Paxton (which is the county seat and an old, established town) many here choose to live in trailers or houses that look like trailer-houses. And Paxton has an IGA supermarket and many shops -- the grocery store at Bay Center has a charming seating area with fireplace and a stand for hotdogs and cheese fries, but little in the way of actual groceries unless you consider Fritos and beer to be food staples.
However, we do not think that Paxton (or even Chicago or Glenview or Onwentsia) could host a display of fireworks to match the ones we enjoyed last night in Bay Center. There were at least 5 families or groups who chose to set off fireworks. Our neighbors ahead of us had been setting off noisy bangs all day and so we were not expecting too much once it got dark here. Big mistake!! Of the five who were setting off large, lovely fireworks, two had amazing displays that went on for over an hour. We saw many old favorite models and some cool, new ones as well. By and large, they were miniature models of the giant ones we'd see at "normal" sponsored events, but nonetheless we oohed and aahed and were totally captivated depsite being almost frozen. Finally, our ears got so cold (having not thought to put on hats before we headed onto our deck on July 4th in sweaters and coats -- for heavens' sake) that we HAD to come inside and warm up. But that was after more than an hour of being wowed by unknown neighbors whose unintended generosity had thrilled us.
Also, forgot to mention a wonderful bumper sticker we saw -- Be nice to us or we'll send our troops to bring democracy to you.
PS It's still overcast and foggy and mighty cold. Boy, some days we really really really miss our Merida sun and pool. But every day, we miss our Jose!!