Thank you, KB. Another thing most Americans don't think about is how the Fireworks on the 4th of July make their neighborhoods sound like a warzone, for those of us that are triggered into flashbacks, of say being in a Mortar Attack (With Machineguns, but it's the Mortars that get me) and not being able to do anything about that.
Also, I have to apologize if I offended anybody. (Also, 20 minutes until I can get my coffee...) Since being offended nowadays is a reason for people to get defensive, I can only thank my lucky Stars that people don't celebrate tomorrow with strings of black cats, and mortars.
I do know. I remember the first 4th of July when I understood the price my father paid. I was maybe 7 and we were close by the fireworks mortars. I know that he was always somber while the fireworks went off. But this night was different.
We were close enough to feel the shockwave of the low explosions in the sky and close enough to really hear the thunk of the mortars firing. I remember looking up at my dad as the smell of cordite wafted past us. I became so frightened. He had the most intense look on his face and tears were streaming down his face.
When he saw how it was affecting me he tried to compose himself and comfort me.
My dad’s ghosts haunted him in the hours of the dark. The men he didn’t bring back weighed heavily upon him.