As kids we’d always stock up on the good stuff, such as M-80s, on our drive back to NJ from vacations in Florida. It didn’t require any pleading to our parents, as my dad was the main instigator. And exploder.
Yes. In Australia it was not illegal. Had an eyebrow burnt off when a Roman candle fell over and one of the tiny fireballs that hurtled out hit my face. Lucky it wasn’t any lower.
No I’ve never been a fan of lighting them myself. I enjoy seeing them, but I don’t like to be close enought to get burnt. When I was a kid, the neighborhood bully shot me with a bottle rocket as I rode my bike. Big fun for him, big burn for me. After that stuff, I was the one that stayed in e car or house during the bottle rocket wars.
I grew up in Maryland. Fireworks of all kinds were prohibited there. It was a real treat to visit my great aunts in DC where we could buy stuff like snakes, sparklers, and fountains. I don’t think you could buy explosive fireworks, though. But I’ve been living in the enlightened South for the last thirty years or so and I can buy all the fireworks I want. Of course, now I don’t want any. Ain’t life funny that way?
I also grew up in Maryland. My grandfather would bring home fuzees (sp?) (warning flares) from the railroad, and they would sit and burn for hours. We also had boxes of “Black Snakes”. Little black “pills” which your parents lit for you and the ash would grow and grow and curl around to resemble a snake. We also got rolls of cap pistol tape, and would bang on the dots with a hammer.
Our next door neighbors have parties now that involve illegal fireworks and go on until the wee smalls. I’m hoping for a good rainstorm tomorrow night.
Like the kids in the strip, I prefer to watch them online (and it doesn’t matter when they were fired). As I mentioned yesterday, all our fathers fired them in the 40s and 50s when I was a little kid. I liked them then (but then as now, I really don’t care for the noise or smell of the gunpowder) distance is my friend.
Best time I remember of the 4th is watching them with BF across Lake Michigan from his car (just us 2). I hope to build some memories like that with my new man.
We not only set them off – otten without our parents’ knowledge – but my brother took up manufacturing some of the less dangerous types. Ah, the good ol’ middle school days.
Surprisingly responsive fireworks were sold near my home when I was a child, and I have a father who enjoyed them too. I was burned frequently, but never blown up.
rubinocreative Premium Member almost 10 years ago
Did you used to set off fireworks?
tammyspeakslife Premium Member almost 10 years ago
@Tony,
No
I wasn’t allowed
ShortStraw almost 10 years ago
Bottle rocket wars were the best.
frumdebang almost 10 years ago
As kids we’d always stock up on the good stuff, such as M-80s, on our drive back to NJ from vacations in Florida. It didn’t require any pleading to our parents, as my dad was the main instigator. And exploder.
tmt almost 10 years ago
@Tony RubinoTried once with my dad one New Year’s eve. Nothing went wrong, but still we decided it wasn’t for us. Watching is enough.
YokohamaMama almost 10 years ago
Yes. In Australia it was not illegal. Had an eyebrow burnt off when a Roman candle fell over and one of the tiny fireballs that hurtled out hit my face. Lucky it wasn’t any lower.
Jkiss almost 10 years ago
No I’ve never been a fan of lighting them myself. I enjoy seeing them, but I don’t like to be close enought to get burnt. When I was a kid, the neighborhood bully shot me with a bottle rocket as I rode my bike. Big fun for him, big burn for me. After that stuff, I was the one that stayed in e car or house during the bottle rocket wars.
Spooky D Cat almost 10 years ago
I grew up in Maryland. Fireworks of all kinds were prohibited there. It was a real treat to visit my great aunts in DC where we could buy stuff like snakes, sparklers, and fountains. I don’t think you could buy explosive fireworks, though. But I’ve been living in the enlightened South for the last thirty years or so and I can buy all the fireworks I want. Of course, now I don’t want any. Ain’t life funny that way?
Dani Rice almost 10 years ago
I also grew up in Maryland. My grandfather would bring home fuzees (sp?) (warning flares) from the railroad, and they would sit and burn for hours. We also had boxes of “Black Snakes”. Little black “pills” which your parents lit for you and the ash would grow and grow and curl around to resemble a snake. We also got rolls of cap pistol tape, and would bang on the dots with a hammer.
Our next door neighbors have parties now that involve illegal fireworks and go on until the wee smalls. I’m hoping for a good rainstorm tomorrow night.
jay_dallas almost 10 years ago
YES! Roman Candles, bottle rockets, black cats, sparklers — We always had a great Fourth.
vldazzle almost 10 years ago
Like the kids in the strip, I prefer to watch them online (and it doesn’t matter when they were fired). As I mentioned yesterday, all our fathers fired them in the 40s and 50s when I was a little kid. I liked them then (but then as now, I really don’t care for the noise or smell of the gunpowder) distance is my friend.
Best time I remember of the 4th is watching them with BF across Lake Michigan from his car (just us 2). I hope to build some memories like that with my new man.
K M almost 10 years ago
You dudes are younger than I am. No way in God’s green earth you did those things.
cdward almost 10 years ago
We not only set them off – otten without our parents’ knowledge – but my brother took up manufacturing some of the less dangerous types. Ah, the good ol’ middle school days.
jbmlaw01 almost 10 years ago
Surprisingly responsive fireworks were sold near my home when I was a child, and I have a father who enjoyed them too. I was burned frequently, but never blown up.
skyx26 almost 10 years ago
Those good old days…