As I trust is obvious, the show and the party are a great deal of work for me--and for a lot of other folks. It's also expensive: my share of the fireworks plus various party foods (e.g., hot dogs and hamburgers for a hundred people) and supplies runs about $1.5K. Many folks who are aware of these facts have asked me why I keep doing it.
The short and easy answer is that it's awesome and it's clearly worth what it costs me.
The longer version sounds dopey, but I'll tell you anyway: it touches my heart profoundly and in many ways at once.
I scream with primal release during some of the rounds. I smile and laugh with joy during others.I could stand under those shooting stars all night long.
My world reduces to the glorious, exploding sky.
I paint the sky and my art--the art of all of us in the field--blazes and shrieks and stuns dozens and dozens of friends.
Time compresses amazingly; forty minutes in the real world feels like ten when you're out there under the fireworks.
The danger rush is always present at a cellular level; even though your brain knows you're doing everything safely, your body is convinced you're at severe risk.
not dopey at all! i suspect that my enjoyment of the fireworks show is but a pale shadow of what you feel - which, given how much i do enjoy it, is pretty amazing. i'm extremely grateful both for all the effort that you put into this gathering, and for the opportunity to be a part of it - the party and the fireworks are one of the highlights of my year. :)
ReplyDelete- lisa
Sounds like a great party, Mark!
ReplyDeleteI've always felt it was damn cool to be part of, if not the host of, an exceptional party that would not otherwise happen!
I think much of my desire to be a good host stems from being brought up in a Southern household.
Thanks for the kind words, Lisa, and thanks, also, for the contributions, both money and work, that you make to the show.
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun thing to do, Griffin.
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