On the night of July 4th, there are two fireworks displays visible from where I live. One is at Myrtle Edwards Park north of the Seattle waterfront, and the other is at the north end of Lake Union. To see the one at Myrtle Edwards Park, one needs to go to the street corner half a block south. But one can watch the Lake Union display from one of the common area balconies upstairs in our apartment building.

Bernice, Denise, Jo, Mary, and possibly Nora are joining Barbara and me (six women and little ol' me) at 7:00 p.m. for a picnic-type supper (chicken, potato salad, other stuff). Then at 10:00, the fireworks displays begin, and it's either down to the corner or up on the balcony. Probably up on the balcony.

Since it's not real easy getting my wheelchair up and down two flights of stairs (I hate that sickening crash when I hit the bottom!), I usually watch it on television. Both displays, carefully coordinated with appropriate music (invariably including the finale of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture) are televised, and I often switch back and forth between the two channels.

Then, when the displays are over, it's back to our apartment for strawberry shortcake.

Don Firth