Bestest Friend and I are doing a blog project. Each day we will write a blog post on a different theme chosen by a random noun generator. The theme for the sixth day of the month is "Reflection."
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The first year we adopted Hannah, the Fourth of July holiday meant absolutely nothing to her. There was major construction happening on our street, she was used to hearing loud thumps and clangs all day long, and the occasional pop and boom had no impact on her quality of life.
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| Our last chance walk. With the sun still out because otherwise she won't go. |
But that second year, she was very nervy whenever someone in our neighborhood would let off fireworks. Our town doesn't actually have a fireworks show, but if they did, we'd at least know that the night of the fireworks show, we would turn up the music for the duration of it and stay with her and it would be fine. BUT. It's the neighbors randomly popping off fireworks all the time that's the problem. And they'll continue to do this for months.
It has gotten worse and worse every year. For the last two years, Hannah has basically refused night walks at all from roughly July until November. This year, our "last chance" walk is basically at 7:30, which means she's essentially holding her pee for twelve hours, which seems cruel.
I used to like the Fourth of July. Who doesn't like a parade (except for Suzanne, I guess), a picnic and/or a carnival, some sparklers, a BBQ, or running through the sprinklers? I vividly remember working a Fourth at my cashier job in college (time and a half, yo!) and going out to the parking lot during my lunch break to watch the whole sky light up with fireworks from the various communities surrounding the city where I was working. When we were first married, Dr. BB and would go with his parents to a fireworks show and there was something so special about it just being the four of us.
But now it's so complicated.
It's complicated with Hannah. It's complicated because we're in a drought and I worry that even a sparkler could light up the whole neighborhood. It's complicated because it's hard to be proud to from a country that is probably going to re-elect Donald Trump. It's complicated because a lot of Fourth activities are centered around food (picnics, carnivals, etc.) and food is so very fraught in our house. It's complicated.
I'm not suggesting that people can't put off fireworks. I just wish it were limited! Like, if the city said you can put off fireworks between July 1 - July 5 from 6-10pm, we could just turn the music up and television up loud during those times and make sure Hannah is properly medicated. It's just that it's unpredictable and goes on for hours and hours and then it will quiet down and we'll put her to bed and there's more booms and she freaks out again!
So, I'm sorry I pretended that American Independence Day didn't happen. It's because I sort of did pretend that.
Are you positive or negative on the Fourth?
When you put it like that, it makes absolute sense that you'd want to ignore 7/4. I'm so, so sorry that Hannah (and your family) has a tough time for MONTHS! That really does seem awfully unfair and intrusive.
ReplyDeleteDo you really think we're going to re-elect 45? Most terrifying sentence you've ever written!
No comment on 45. I live in a red county is all I'm saying.
DeleteAlso, do people really enjoy the loud fireworks? I've only ever liked the "sparkly" ones.
ReplyDeleteI don't know anything about fireworks anymore. Loud or quiet. I don't know!
DeleteI understand. In so many neighborhoods, fireworks/firecrackers start popping off the third week of June and last most of July. It's ridiculous. I'm sick of it, too. Zydrunas is skittish of most stray noises (he has an elevated guarding response), and I worry for him. He spent most of the Independence Day weekend nights standing over my son's body in bed, getting almost no sleep.
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone in having mixed feelings about the holiday lately. It's yet another case of #ETTD.
I think the left should take back the flag, take back patriotic holidays, and then we could have some fun again!
DeleteYou and my daughter would like each other- she pretty much refused to acknowledge the holiday for political reasons. I'm neutral about it, I guess. I like it because it's always a day off for me (the place I work is closed five days a year, and 4th of July is one of them.) I also have fond childhood memories of the day. I absolutely agree that fireworks should be LIMITED. There's no reason in the world to keep shooting them off after, let's say, the 5th. This affects a LOT of people- so many people have pets, and/or small children they're trying to get to sleep. Poor Hannah!!!
ReplyDeleteYES for a day off work! Celebrate!
DeleteI am feeling really cranky today after another night where immediately after we put the dog to bed, there were booms. I'm a curmudgeon and may harden my stance from limited fireworks to none ever again. I need some sleep!!!!
I'm pro July 4. First of all, it was the day that I met my stepsons and there is always a huge family party that day, so it's special for that reason. Second of all, yes I have a few problems with the current state of affairs, but that doesn't dictate how I feel about my country.
ReplyDeleteI do agree on holding down the fireworks for pets/kids/people who need to sleep. My SILs dog is terrified of them.
Yay for the Fourth having special meaning to you! That's such a lovely thing to have on your calendar every year - a party and an anniversary of you meeting your stepsons.
DeletePhil I had a conversation about the 4th and Patriotism on one of our "car commutes dates" which is what I want to call it now that you suggested we consider our commutes a date! I have such mixed feelings about being an American. On one hand, I can see that we have a lot of privileges that citizens of other countries don't have. But on the other hand, it's hard to be proud to be part of a country that elected Trump and might again? (gosh I hope not!!) I went to Spain in Nov/Dec of 2016 and my friend and I decided to not reveal that we were Americans if we were ever asked. We decided we'd identify as Canadians. So the 4th is not my favorite holiday and you won't see me decking my kids out in patriotic clothing. And I hate the unpredictability of fireworks! They seem to never end! Luckily my kids sleep through them. Also, fireworks happen at dark and I am not awake when it's dark in the summer since I go to bed
ReplyDeleteHa at not revealing yourself as Americans in Europe! That's hilarious. I wonder how many people do that. I remember a friend who was in Europe and he's not really a gung-ho patriotic guy, but when people would ask him about America's foreign policy, he said he got all defensive and sort of reverted to default jingoism and it really surprised him. National identity is a complicated thing.
DeleteI'm not American so July 4th doesn't mean anything to me but, in general, I am not a fan or crowds, so big celebrations like this are not appealing. I do NOT like parades (it's hot, there are so many people, it's boring). I do like setting off some small fireworks on the shoreline of my parents lake property but these are the $25 kits that don't do much of anything. It's a fun experience with the kids, but is quiet and very, very low-key.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! I really like parades a lot! I like the communal nature of it - the bands, the floats - it's fun! How do you think they're boring?! I don't think we're going to come to a common agreement on this one.
DeleteWhile, like Beckett, I love my country despite its many, many flaws, I do NOT like July Fourth. It is too hot. As you noted, I hate parades (thanks for the shout out!). I think fireworks are pretty but the shows take place too late at night and they are TOO LOUD. I hate that just anyone can set off fireworks in their yard, and that they do so for weeks on end. No thank you to ALL of it. The only good thing about it, from my perspective, is that my husband usually gets a day off (unless he is on call).
ReplyDeleteYou and Elisabeth can be parade curmudgeons. I'll allow it. I still love a good parade, though!
DeleteI'm about as anti-fourth as anyone I know. Lizzie is much the same -- I don't see her at all once the pops start. And I don't like regular people doing fireworks in the neighborhood. (If you've seen my recent post you'll know why! Could have been tragic... ) I don't mind an organized display, usually an hour or less and then done. But the rest of it, no. I'm not that big on parades -- they're OK but I don't race to see one. I'm not fond of our country these days, and I'm sad about that. It has so much but it has gone downhill big time, starting around 2016 and I feel like too many very angry, bigoted people have corrupted the feeling of patriotism and the flag. I wish they 'd all go away....
ReplyDeleteI kind of wish Hannah would hide like Lizzie. Instead she sits down next to us and shakes and shakes. It's so sad to see. I agree that I'd be fine with an organized display as we could plan for that, but it's just the erratic nature of people randomly setting them off in the neighborhood that we can't plan for.
DeleteAside from the town’s fireworks for our First, I am not aware of too many other fireworks being set off.
ReplyDeleteClear divide between Canada and the US right here!
DeleteBeatrix HATED fireworks SO MUCH. But Halloween was really the very worst day for her. So much doorbell! Madison stopped sponsoring city fireworks, so we only have amateur shows— very loud.
ReplyDeleteCould you turn off your doorbell? We had to install ours when we moved in and there's a way for us to silence it! I guess it doesn't matter if people then knock. *sigh* It's tough when you have sensitive pets. (I mean, it's obviously MUCH harder for sensitive people - babies, the elderly, military veterans - but pets are an additional challenge.)
DeleteOur dog hates fireworks too. We used to spend New Years Eve down at a rental near the beach and people would let off a few fireworks and because he couldn't be inside the rental it was a bit of a pain, luckily they had good fences. It is actually illegal to buy or set off fireworks in Australia unless you have a pyrotechnicians license and it is an authorised event but some still do it, but since it is illegal its pretty rare.
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine it becoming illegal here in the States. Maybe I should find Hannah a new human in Australia so she'd have less stress in her life!
DeleteI wish it we had fireworks rules, that people would actually follow them :) Totally with you on this. Not a big fourth fan. I don't do well at crowds (parade) or with loud noises.
ReplyDeleteWell, it seems like our little bloggy corner are a bunch of party poopers when it comes to the Fourth. Please come with me to the Curmudgeon Area.
Delete4th of July doesn't mean much to me. I am a (dual) citizen now, but I don't feel particularly patriotic, so it's not a day I "need" to celebrate. I also hate the fireworks... California is in a drought and I thought private fireworks are "prohibited", still there's so much fire-cracking going on days before and after the holiday. It's really stupid.
ReplyDeleteYes, we're in a drought, too! It's unsafe at the best of times and this is certainly NOT the best of times.
DeleteI have very complicated feelings about the 4th. I think fireworks should only happen on the 4th, not any of the days before or after. Thankfully, my cats don't get too bothered by the fireworks but my mom's dogs do and for at least a few weeks after the fireworks, Lucy gets very scared to go outside at night. It breaks my heart!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's very hard to be a proud American these days. It was especially hard after the slew of Supreme Court decisions that were just one awful decision after another. It's hard when we are so divided as a nation, and the other side is more concerned with limiting the rights of people than making our nation great. I'm very worried about a Trump re-election, too, and it's disheartening.
Honestly, I wouldn't even care if it was all week of the Fourth. I get it. The Fourth was a Tuesday, so who's going to want to stay up late to see fireworks when they have to work the next day. I'm fine with it if it's both weekends on either side. I just wish I KNEW, so I could help prevent Hannah from freaking out, like Lucy. Hannah basically won't go outside at night right now, either. Luckily it's light enough late enough that it's not an issue right now, but that light will gradually get less and less and it will be a problem.
DeleteIt is hard to feel patriotic, isn't it? I'm not feeling optimistic about the future right now and that makes it hard to feel like celebrating.
I'm not a huge fourth fan, either. Both for political reasons (long before the former president) and for the... jingoistic patriotism (is that redundant? maybe?) displayed by some. I don't hate fireworks but I hate that people lit them amid a drought, at all hours, and that it did continue for DAYS.
ReplyDeleteHilariously, this very issue was mentioned on a SPORTS podcast I listen to. :) (Sorry, just pointing that out since I know you are, um, not fond of sports. ;>)
Just two nights ago, someone in our neighborhood was lighting fireworks. AGAIN. It's exhausting and I hate it. I had just gotten to the point where Hannah wouldn't freak out if we took out her out at dusk and the sun was fully set when we got home (she was out after dark! it looked accidental to her and like I didn't plan it!), but now it's back to having to be full daylight to get her to leave the yard. I just hate it.
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