There's always a box of sparklers in a drawer somewhere in my house. It's the same box that gets moved from one to another each time that drawer gets cleaned out. (Since that's not very often, they're bound to be safe there.) I can't part with them. I don't know why, but they make me smile. I even took them to a wedding once in my camera bag intenting to let the bride & groom have fun with them on the beach at night & take a picture, smiles & all. I couldn't do it. I left them safely in my bag. Were they the right couple to enjoy them? I wasn't sure.

 

So, here I am, again on this 4th of July smiling down at my box of sparklers. I think I must have a faint memory of sparklers being my 1st awareness of fun on the 4th, but more than that, maybe it was my Dad gently holding my hand, twirling the sparkley diamonds round and round. Delightful. Take your children out tonight in the darkness of night, stillness all around, and let them twirl sparklers to their heart's delight. AND this time, do them a favor, and take a picture of them so they'll know for sure it happened. Tonight, I might let at least one of my sparklers "sparkle".

 

Happy 4th of July everyone.