Happy Birthday America!

I love fireworks! And Pittsburgh's rock!!!!

I have to admit, I've strongly favored small town fireworks for years. Big city fireworks have always meant agonizing ordeals trying to find a parking spot, and afterwards trying to leave it (when you're all worn out and just want to get home already) or agonizing public transit ordeals, crammed in like a sardine. There's the fear that you'll arrive too late to snag a spot where you will actually be able to see anything, or that there won't be any food/water/shade/bathrooms, etc. etc.  Small town fireworks, on the other hand, mean you can avoid all of that, and stretch out on a blanket up close where you can see the fireworks practically from underneath. For our first July 4th in Pittsburgh, we decided to head right in to the center of it all and give it a try. It was splendid! We found a spot just above the water in front of Heinz Field with a wonderful view, and there was always room there. There were plenty of port-a-pots and all the corn dogs, shave ices and funnel cakes our hearts could desire. Long before the fireworks came, the sky glowed with a rainbow, then a grand show of thunder and lightning. But somehow I knew we wouldn't get rained on until we started walking back to our car, when the party would be over and it would be kind of fun. And I was right. 

The people watching was a far cry from what a small town would have to offer. A black man with a deep, musical baritone was having a big gathering beside his boat, and filling the air with house music. An Indian family spread out the most beautiful blanket I think I've ever seen while their kids danced around. A young lesbian couple brought a ukulele and sang songs to each other. A middle aged lady sat down, and I noticed she had a tattoo of a dog on her upper arm. Soon a teeny matching dog settled on her lap. She left after a while, and was replaced by a very, very drunk and possibly homeless man, smoking and drinking and talking nonstop in an animated, incoherent fashion. After a while, he too left, remarking that he could barely walk and leaving his beer can behind. As soon as it began to grow dark, the inevitable vendor selling highly overpriced glowsticks and blinky lights arrived. A grandmother bought bubble wands and danced around blowing bubbles with her grandkids. A fashion parade of red, white and blue attire streamed by. And the fireworks? They were heavenly. Happy Birthday USA! Pittsburgh sure knows how to throw you a party.