Monday, July 04, 2005

July 3

In the 31 years I have lived in and around this city, I have never seen Chicago's July 3 fireworks in person. I would see bits on the news or whatever, I never went down to Grant Park to see them.

When I was little I always wanted to go, and would beg my parents. They always said no. I started to realize how much of a pain in the butt it would be when a friend of mine went back in junior high or so. They tried to leave right away, but didn't get home until 2 am.

I briefly thought about going once I moved into the city, thinking that it would be easier, but ultimately decided the crowd would be too much. Last year it dawned on me that I might be able to see them from a little pier that goes into the lake a few blocks from my apartment. Tim and I went out there. There was a bunch of other people there, so they must be visible, but it was really cloudy with a low ceiling, so we couldn't really see them.

This year, we went over to my friends' apartment. They live right by the park, and had the most excellent view. I don't think I could have seen the fireworks better had I been in the park. It was quite a display. I'm used to crappy suburban displays. This was much nicer. We listened to the concert on the radio, and so we were much better off than the people in the park because we sat on furniture and didn't need to crane our necks.

Perhaps tonight Tim and I will kneel on my futon and watch about 5 displays from various suburbs out my living room window.