July 4 edition
Hope everybody's enjoying this 3-day 4th of July holiday weekend wherever you may be. I unfortunately had to work today - good news was I left ahead of schedule, so all worked out well. Double pay; can't beat that with a stick.
The 4th of July is filled with lots of memories with my family - both with them, and going solo. I thought about the trip to White Sands back in 1972 or 1973; Lynn if you can remember please let me know - we and another family went out there one time (back then I had no clue what it was let alone where it was). But for the life of me, I don't remember if it was during those holidays or during another time.
But anyway... dad would take me, mom and Lynn to watch the fireworks out in the open desert - not sure if it was off of McCombs or Dyer - but I know it was near the Texas-New Mexico border. Everybody was shooting them off back then, of course back then I was sensitive to loud noise - and still am when it occurs unexpectedly - but when we were in Texas, that was how our 4th was spent.
In Europe we did that too, but that occurred only on the American bases.
Las Vegas was similar to El Paso. Fireworks when there was absolutely nothing were shot off of Hollywood Blvd and along Las Vegas Blvd. I think they still do that today on the Boulevard, but not on Hollywood anymore. Nellis AFB and Sam Boyd Stadium used to do their displays and I think parts of the Strip too.
For several years I hung out with the Arnold and Hutchings' families - one time I became a hero when I noticed a bottle rocket that was still fizzling was heading towards the ground. I told everybody to take cover, which they did - and landed right behind Nicole Daniel, who was protecting her daughter. Shawn thought the rocket hit the house, but luckily it didn't. Nikki got enraged and went after the bums who shot the rockets off because that rocket may have burned her daughter. My radar and quick thinking did pay off that day.
I miss their presence - Shawn, Alan, Nikki, Will, Matt, Mitch, etc... haven't talked to them since I moved to LA; hopefully all is well with them today.
Also spent a 4th of July or two with Bart and his family in the '80s. One of my longtime friends - perhaps the longest of anybody I've met since arriving in 1981. Douglas McLeod was actually the first of my Vegas buddies - haven't talked to him in a long time; hopefully he's doing well wherever he's at.
SoCal may have been a fun place to shoot off fireworks, but due to the fire danger these days, its prohibited to do that in some areas. In fact, its illegal to shoot them off in the South Bay area. Since I came here, I've seen several fireworks shows - one that is more known is the one at the Coliseum. The Rose Bowl I think also has a similar display too - and of course the FD's in the South Bay presents a fireworks show. One would think that most of us still go out in the desert - especially around Barstow, Needles, Kingman and the Victor Valley area - not sure if their governments do that these days...
This year I'll be somewhere on the PCH watching the displays from Santa Monica, LAX, El Segundo, Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beaches - somewhere around Sunset Blvd - if not near Will Rogers. Gonna be a good 4th - I hope yours will be good too. Please remember to not drive if you drink - and if you see a drunk on the road, call 911 immediately.
Talk to you on the 4th - enjoy!
Rob
The 4th of July is filled with lots of memories with my family - both with them, and going solo. I thought about the trip to White Sands back in 1972 or 1973; Lynn if you can remember please let me know - we and another family went out there one time (back then I had no clue what it was let alone where it was). But for the life of me, I don't remember if it was during those holidays or during another time.
But anyway... dad would take me, mom and Lynn to watch the fireworks out in the open desert - not sure if it was off of McCombs or Dyer - but I know it was near the Texas-New Mexico border. Everybody was shooting them off back then, of course back then I was sensitive to loud noise - and still am when it occurs unexpectedly - but when we were in Texas, that was how our 4th was spent.
In Europe we did that too, but that occurred only on the American bases.
Las Vegas was similar to El Paso. Fireworks when there was absolutely nothing were shot off of Hollywood Blvd and along Las Vegas Blvd. I think they still do that today on the Boulevard, but not on Hollywood anymore. Nellis AFB and Sam Boyd Stadium used to do their displays and I think parts of the Strip too.
For several years I hung out with the Arnold and Hutchings' families - one time I became a hero when I noticed a bottle rocket that was still fizzling was heading towards the ground. I told everybody to take cover, which they did - and landed right behind Nicole Daniel, who was protecting her daughter. Shawn thought the rocket hit the house, but luckily it didn't. Nikki got enraged and went after the bums who shot the rockets off because that rocket may have burned her daughter. My radar and quick thinking did pay off that day.
I miss their presence - Shawn, Alan, Nikki, Will, Matt, Mitch, etc... haven't talked to them since I moved to LA; hopefully all is well with them today.
Also spent a 4th of July or two with Bart and his family in the '80s. One of my longtime friends - perhaps the longest of anybody I've met since arriving in 1981. Douglas McLeod was actually the first of my Vegas buddies - haven't talked to him in a long time; hopefully he's doing well wherever he's at.
SoCal may have been a fun place to shoot off fireworks, but due to the fire danger these days, its prohibited to do that in some areas. In fact, its illegal to shoot them off in the South Bay area. Since I came here, I've seen several fireworks shows - one that is more known is the one at the Coliseum. The Rose Bowl I think also has a similar display too - and of course the FD's in the South Bay presents a fireworks show. One would think that most of us still go out in the desert - especially around Barstow, Needles, Kingman and the Victor Valley area - not sure if their governments do that these days...
This year I'll be somewhere on the PCH watching the displays from Santa Monica, LAX, El Segundo, Manhattan, Hermosa and Redondo Beaches - somewhere around Sunset Blvd - if not near Will Rogers. Gonna be a good 4th - I hope yours will be good too. Please remember to not drive if you drink - and if you see a drunk on the road, call 911 immediately.
Talk to you on the 4th - enjoy!
Rob
posted by Robert @ 11:51 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home