Saturday was the annual Rhythm and Booms event at Warner Park. This is a fireworks show set to music, and I remember watching it as a kid from my family's property, sitting in the back of the minivan with the radio blaring. Aunt Debbie and Brenda would come over too, and we loved it. I remember one year, Brenda popped a paper grocery bag full of popcorn for us to eat, and I exclaimed, "Look, Mom! REAL popcorn!" I remember Brenda looking at me with a quizzical brow, as if to say, "Well what other kind of popcorn is there?" Microwaveable, of course. Charlie and I didn't get out much. Watching the bag of popcorn dance in the microwave was exciting stuff.

I even made an effort to watch the show just days after I moved back to Wisconsin in 2005. Even so, I had never actually gone to Warner Park to see the show live. Until Nick. It was important to him to show me Rhythm and Booms live in 2006. We have gone together every year since, and I have come to look forward to a day sprawled on a blanket beneath the sun, spending the afternoon reading, and playing epic rounds of Yahtzee. We don't often take the time in our busy lives to slow down and just relax.

I find it funny that regardless of what we do together, we always end up with a series of shots that look like this:



The park became crowded as the sun mellowed. The family in front of us gave me and Nick glow sticks. Nick tried to be all cavalier and politely decline. You go on and keep your glow sticks, ma'am. We can manage. But only, midway, he turned to me with a childlike grin and turned back to the woman and thanked her, reaching eagerly for the new toy. Really, when doesn't a glow stick make everything like ten times better?

The show starts with the National Anthem, and red fireworks illuminate the sky at "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air…" and I can't help myself. I get choked up every time. During the day, Nick shared with me that Men's Health ranked Madison, WI as the tenth most patriotic city in the country. Go Madisonians! Appreciate your soldiers!

After the anthem concludes, the sound of F-16s pierce the night air as they fly overhead.



It was a really nice day, and we made excellent time getting home. Thanks to Nick's suggestion, I was cozy in my sweatshirt and pants while I watched the fireworks, though I am sure I looked like Nanook of the North to all the teens in their sad little string bikinis and so not-there shorts…but who was more comfortable? I think I've made my point. More pictures below (including a poodle that caught Nick's attention…probably because it was wrapped in glow sticks).