bang!
Sunday, February 28th, 2010I never thought I’d say this, but I am really sick and tired of fireworks. They let them off here for New Year’s, both January 1 and Chinese New Year, which would be fine. Great, in fact. I’ve always loved watching fireworks. But then they don’t stop.
And they let them off in the riverside park and sometimes the empty lot near our house, so we can hear them all too clearly (sometimes we can even see them from our apartment).
When we came back from Africa, the weekend after Chinese New Year, they were letting them off pretty much all night. We had to wear earplugs. And they’re still letting them off – as late as midnight last night, all evening so far tonight (and some really big, loud ones). These are not the kind of things Americans can let off in the driveway in some states; these are the big ones, as big as the ones we used to see in the local park on July 4 when I was a kid. And tonight I saw them being let off in at least three places in the park, all about 5 minutes’ walk from here. Of course, whenever I go to the window to watch them, either that volley is just ending or else they’re hidden behind a building.
It surprises me a bit to realize, but I think fireworks are one of those things that are best in their right place – which would be, not when I’m ready to go to sleep.
I’ve taken to yelling in their general direction, “Yes, we know your culture invented gunpowder! Get over it already!” Given that I’m inside my apartment and not speaking Chinese, this doesn’t do any good, of course, but it makes me feel a little better.
Tomorrow: off to the Netherlands, whence Ted is already gone. The most exciting thing about this trip is that I get to scope out my new apartment! Also, breathing cleaner air. And no fireworks!