Thermalgal’s Temperate Mumblings

Fireworks!

Since it is the 4th this weekend, most people will be going to see their local fireworks display… Since I’m near DC, I’ve done the mall thing twice. I don’t want to ever do *that* again. It was just me and a couple million of my closest friends. I remember the first time, we got a spot near the Washington Monument. And to get the good spots you need to get there early and camp out all day until it gets dark enough for fireworks (usually after 9 pm). The most vivid memory… me saying, “Hey B***h, you stepped on my apple pie!” I couldn’t believe that this woman put her entire foot into my big 9″ pie that was sitting on our blanket! Of course she didn’t even apologize and just continued on. The second time was a lot nicer. We had friends who lived a couple of blocks from the Captial. So we went straight to their place and then walked over. And the best thing… they sent people ahead to save spots so I didn’t have to camp out all day long! We were seated on the mall in front of either the American or Natural History Museums (or as I grew up with, the one with the flag or the one with the wooly mammoth). And then for many years, I just didn’t go to any fireworks. I would see some from my SIL’s house but that was about it. But last year and this year… we are going to the fireworks at Franklin Park. But will I get to see the fireworks… no. Not unless I lose my place in the music and stop playing . See, I’m in the band that will be playing the music that accompanies the fireworks. Lots of Sousa Marches and America the Beautiful. I just hope we have a drummer show up. At practice this week, we had no drummer. While it was adequate at the time, I don’t think we really want the 2nd flutes to hum the drum solos! And guess what? I’m first oboe for this concert. Okay, I’m usually second oboe (out of two), but the first oboe is out of town, so that bumps me up! No solos, but I do get to tune the band. And after Tuesday’s practice I feel much better than last year about this. Last year, I had to do the same thing, and I had only being playing again for three months! What a mess! It actually gave me more confidence that I might be able to do this solo thing at church next month. Oh and the best thing… I get say, “I’m with the band” to get in for free and get great parking.