We’re rapidly approaching my favorite holiday.

I love the Fourth of July, largely because I love fireworks.  If it goes “boom,” I’m there, and generally it’s as close as possible.

In one of those strange quirks of the law, fireworks companies in Ohio are allowed to sell class C explosives (the ones that go up in the air), but people who buy them must sign a document promising to take them out of state within 48 hours. Everything except smoke and sparklers are illegal in West Virginia, but guess where all those Ohio fireworks turn up!

I usually have enough boom-booms on hand for about five good shows.  One year, we went to a friend’s house (she has a HUGE back yard!) in a nearby town. The officer on duty pulled up in his squad car, watched the entire display, then, without saying a word to anyone, just drove away.  We all got a good laugh out of that one!

If you’re going to use fireworks this Independence Day, please do so carefully. I’m always so distressed to hear about people who lose fingers, eyes, or worse. Unless you really know what you’re doing, leave it to the experts.  There is no Lasik surgery that can replace an eye lost to one of these accidents.