The fine art of fireworks

“You are born an artist or you are not. And you stay an artist, dear, even if your voice is less of a fireworks. The artist is always there.” - Maria Callas


Next to Christmas and my birthday, I think the 4th of July is my favorite holiday. It is just so much fun.

I have always loved fireworks. Growing up in Bloomington, my parents brought us kids to see the 4th of July fireworks every year. Whether we were at our cabin on Round Lake (near Park Rapids), or went on a picnic somewhere in the cities , or had a backyard BBQ with friends, no matter where we were, we always went to see the fireworks.

I remember one year we went to the old Met stadium in Bloomington. My dad parked the gold Ford Galaxy 500 and he pulled an old green and weathered Army blanket out of the trunk and spread it on the hood of the car and let us sit there eating popcorn brought from home. We were dressed in our jammies in case we fell asleep on the way home. I never did. I was just too excited.

I sat there on the edge of the hood with my neck cranked all the way back and my eyes on the sky waiting for 20 minutes before it was even dark. "You are going to get a sore neck" my mom said to me. I didn't care. I just didn't want to miss a thing. And I never ever did.

Fireworks have always been a wonderment for me. So when I got the idea to go behind the scenes to find out how the shows are put together, I didn't know what I would find. Exactly. Did I want to know the secrets? or keep the mystery in the fire?

Knowing the secrets and finding the truth behind the scenes is in my blood. I had to know.

It was an amazing experience for me. Being that close to the process of setting them up and then shooting them off was one to add to my “coolest experiences ever” list.

Lon Schmidt, the go-to PIC (person in charge) was very tolerant of my never ending questions. He often chuckled and I wasn’t quite sure if he was laughing at me or laughing with me. Either way is OK with me. And when he asked me if I wanted to pull the trigger to start the show I was stunned. I believe I stared with that doe-in-the-headlights look ... “Um, are you serious? Yeah! That would be awesome!”

And it was. Simply amazing.

It was an unbelievable feeling to pull that trigger and fire those explosives while standing less than 200 feet away. Lon warned me of the dangers of being so close, but I didn’t think twice. I wanted to be there. And I stayed up close when I was done.

I could not only see the fireworks I have always marveled at, but that day I could feel them. The explosions shook the ground sending vibrations through my feet that traveled through every inch of my body. It was an unbelievable fantastical sensation. Every one of my senses was alive. Smoke filled the air on the ground and above the tree-line sometimes so thick I could not see 200-feet in front of me. It was a slightly electrified sulphuric/medicinal/gun powder type of smell almost like when you blow out a Eucalyptus candle. Or 10,000 of them.

I watched more of what was happening on the ground than what was happening in the sky. A much different view of fireworks than I had ever witnessed before. And at times the pitch-black night became as bright as daylight when several went off simultaneously. Pieces of shells that resemble coconuts dropped to the ground all around me.

I could not believe Lon when he said the show lasted 24 minutes and 45 seconds. It was one of those feels-like-20-seconds-and-I-don’t-want-it-to-end moments. My heart was still pounding and I could feel my legs shaking. It was almost like landing on the ground after a parachute jump.

I did not once ever feel the danger. My brain knew it was there lingering on the edge, but I didn’t feel it. Perhaps it was because I felt comfortable after watching the way the crew worked to make sure everything went off the way it was suppose to. Murphy’s Law is always a possibility, but I didn’t think of it. And thank the Lord, nothing went wrong.

I thank Lon and the crew for putting up with me and showing me the ropes. I will never forget such an electrifying experience.

I have heard nothing but kudos from the towns-folk about the show. It really was one of the best shows Garrison has ever had. From my point of view it was by far the best on the lake and quite possibly the best show north of the Taste of Minnesota. If it were simulcast to music on the radio, it would be the best in Minnesota.

Happy Independence everyone.

Peace.

p.s.
And then Jeff Foxworthy said, "You may be a redneck if... your lifetime goal is to own a fireworks stand." I don't want to own one, but I do like to pull the trigger.


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