I figure Mr. Troutbend owes me a good fireworks show. Years ago we lived near a big reservoir and could sit on our roof and view the best fireworks show we'd ever seen and the way it's going ever will see. Then it was discontinued so we would have had to join the throngs of people who drove to view them set off over a golf course in the city.



In the mountain town near where we live now, weather and fire danger permitting, fireworks are set off over the lake but we avoid it because of the traffic.

We bought a timeshare in Orlando and were assured that we would be able to sit on the screened porch of our top floor condo and see the nightly fireworks at the Disney parks. But when the buildings were all built there was a taller one blocking our view.

We came closer for New Year's Eve in Las Vegas: we stayed in a Strip hotel, but our room didn't face the fireworks so we watched them from a little window in the elevator lobby. It was better than the year we stayed at an off-strip hotel and crouched on the top floor to watch the show on the Strip five miles away.

But pretty much I feel there will be a gap in my life until I have a really good seat at a really good fireworks and no stress getting there and getting home. One of these days it will all come together and my life will be complete.