Last Tuesday I had a wonderful time celebrating. Walt gave me a ride to Curtis' house (along with Kyle and Kirby) and we enjoyed a cookout with friends. Curtis' hospitality was wonderful.
Kelci and Mandy @ Curtis' House
After a few hours at Curtis', several of us headed back into town to watch the city fireworks by the river. I rode alone in the car with Walt, and if any of you know Walt, you know he loves giving people heart attacks. Or, rather... surprises, and surprised is just what I felt when he took a different road, drove us into the middle of a country intersection, and stopped the car.
"What is he thinking???" I wondered quietly.
There was one moment of very awkward silence, and then he said something to the effect of: "Are you just gonna sit there or are we going to shoot off some fireworks?!?"
And so we both hopped out of the car and for several minutes, right before sunset, shot fireworks.
At one point Walt set a slightly larger firework on the ground and then told me that it was for me to light. Worried that he might be tricking me into another "heart attack", I told him I would not light it. I didn't recognize this particular firework, and was worried that when I lit it it might blow up really quickly with huge sounds, and then I would scream my lungs out and he would be laughing. After accepting my refusal to light the firework, he shrugged and lit it himself. Several feet into the air popped a tiny figure with a parachute. There was nothing alarming about it, in fact it was a rather neat little show. I felt embarrased... very sheepish. Walt wasn't trying to give me a heart attack at all. (at least at that time...)
We got back into the car and went on our way. A few minutes behind the others, perhaps, but it was well worth it. As we were leaving I was amazed at God's beautiful sunset. It was far more brilliant and colorful than anything man can put in the sky. I took a photograph.
God's Beautiful Sunset
Later in the evening we were in town and enjoying those city fireworks. Altogether it was Ellen, Walt, Kyle, Kirby, JoAnna, Grant, Steven, Susie, Kelci, Mandy, and I.
Bang, bang, bang!
After the fireworks show I walked with most of the others to Ellen's house and we stood outside and visited for a while. Then Santiago, Barry, and Molly showed up. It was wonderful to spend time with these friends and it was a splendid evening.
