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July 04, 2006
4 July 2006
Macy's provided fireworks displays in three locations, with a total of 5 barges on the East River. We decided to go to the FDR drive this year, where we can watch clusters of fireworks from the usual 3 barges.
We were on the upper level of the FDR drive at around 35th street. It was a 2-hour wait for a show that was 25 minutes, and the stretch of road was already reasonably packed when we arrived.
The first Macy's fireworks we saw was in 2002, from our 38th street apartment near Second. I think there were three barges but we could only see one, that is, when we were lucky, when it floated in between the small space of two buildings built large enough to house the population of small islands in the Asia-Pacific.
We were three then, and this year we're one more, sitting on a stretch of road closed to traffic, probably with neighbours we haven't met. The only tourists near us were an elderly couple with a Cockney accent, who used the word "bum" in reference to the backside 28 times. About 10 metres away, some people held an impromptu competition, to see who can sing the Star-Spangled Banner best. Someone from the 11th floor of the building behind them joined in the contest, drawing applause from their neighbours in the next building, and the people below.
The kids were happily munching on cheerios and what seemed to be chewy rectangular layers of strawberry jelly.
By nine, most were already on their feet, many taking pictures of each other before the sun finally set.
"Wow.... Fireworks!!!", Azmina said over and over again.
Farizah just stared at the sky.
Millions ... looking at the same display; millions, having the same gleam on their eyes. The 5 new colours introduced this year didn't matter much. It was time to let go, in each of our comfortable spaces.
Once in a while, someone would say.. "Look... smileys", or "Cubes!" And applause, more awe and applause. Though there was one "Aww, come on!!! What the ... was that???", followed by, "Alright!! That was what I was talking about!!"
An hour after the fireworks ended, M15 buses heavy with more people than it would have taken any other day, were still making their way slowly through the road that would eventually lead home.
Posted by quickness at July 4, 2006 11:30 PM
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