Fireworks

WAYNE’S WORDS
Volume 3 Number 17
Fireworks

I saw someone commented that it is time for a new blog. Thank God I have you people to help me keep this thing up to date. As you may have been able to tell from the Musical A.D.D. fluff piece, I don’t have a lot to write about. I just haven’t been in the best of moods this year. Oh well.

I guess I can tell you about my 4^th of July. It was actually a good holiday.

On Saturday the 4^th, I went up to Ruidoso to meet my sister and her family (including in-laws). They were all down from Missouri for a week. My mom and the boy had gone up Friday afternoon. Although I was the slightest bit grumpy about them being here on the 4^th, it quickly passed. Why was I grumpy about it? Because I have historically gone to some concert or something on that holiday and this year I was missing THE CULT in El Paso. The Cult!!!! I love The Cult. I have NEVER seen The Cult! Sis, that should show you how much you and yours mean to me. I missed a favorite band so I could hang out with you guys – and I am so very glad I did.

Although hanging with the Show-Me-State crowd was big fun, the highlight of my trip (besides the boy being the BEST and MOST FUN kid ever!) was the evening of the 4^th.

After a day of tourist shopping, we all loaded up and headed down the mountain to Alamogordo. We were going to see friends of the family and to hang out and watch fireworks. The ‘Gord’ always has a nice display and it is also home to my immediate family.

We all walked in the house and said our hellos and such. I was bringing up the rear and over everyone’s heads I locked eyes with an amazing woman. We immediately began talking and joking with each other. We had incredible rapport and we took awesome comedic digs at each other. This verbal back and forth went on for what seemed like hours.

I have to admit that we were both putting on a bit of a show for my family, but the connection was so strong that I know we would have acted the same way if no one had been around. It was awesome laughing with each other, age related jokes, bagging (jokingly of course) about each other’s heritage. We had so much fun.

Finally, I grabbed her hand and told her we were going for a drive. She feigned fear about leaving alone with me and even clung on to one of the in-laws arms to keep me from dragging her away. She protested and yelled that she wasn’t even wearing any shoes. I told her she didn’t need any as I shoved her out the door leaving the cackles and guffaws of the family.

We drove all over Alamogordo and some how was able to turn that tiny trip into more than an hour. The whole time we were gone we just talked. Without as much of the “showing off for the family” pressure on us our conversation turned a little more serious for brief moments during that ride. It was an incredible time.

When we returned to the house it was time for the fireworks, so we all took chairs out back and sat down in great anticipation. As the show started, this incredible woman put her hand in mine and continuously whispered about how pretty the display was. She also leaned over to me and commented on how the lightning behind the fireworks was even prettier. Every so often she would squeeze my hand tightly as fireworks shot off by the neighbors startled her.

Finally, the show ended and it was time for us to head back up the mountain. We said our goodbyes and went on our merry way.

That evening was the best time I have ever spent with my adopted grandmother, Emma. She gets confused these days (the woman is 88 years old) and unless I am giving her non-stop sh!t, it seems she is not really sure what is going on. When we are joking with each other – it is like a light turns on and she seems like the same woman I have known for 40 years. At moments on our drive she even spoke to me about things that made no sense until I realized that she thought I was my Dad.

I know there will come a point when Emma does not remember that 4^th of July, but, for me – it was one of the best days ever.

Until Next Time,

Wayne