I always looked forward to the 4th of July when I was a kid. I understood the meaning of the holiday. But I also knew it was that time of year for fireworks. Let me say it again “When I was a Kid”! Because back in the 70’s my father owned an auto body repair shop in Fargo and June of every year the back half of his Quonset was turned into a wholesale fireworks warehouse. Many of the fireworks stands back in those days got their supply of fireworks from this gentlemen’s business. It was also very strange to have in the same building…fireworks, and a business that often used acetylene torches and metal grinders as part of its daily business.

To get back to my excitement if you please. This was the time of year I could make some money plus give some good deals to my friends who wanted fireworks. Nobody knew this place was at my Dad’s shop. I would go back there and buy packs of “Blackcats,” three for 25 cents. (Remember I’m a kid) and sold them for 25 cents apiece to my friends. I made money and my friends got it cheaper than from the stands. Sold bottle rockets too, but that was it. Dad wouldn’t let me go for the big stuff. It was a good racket at the time…you could get a lot of baseball cards in those days with that kind of money.

While kids just lit them off haphazardly, I would plant my firecrackers for maximum enjoyment. We made model cars back in those days, maybe a half dozen a year. Then the 4th of July came. My brother and I would carefully place those pieces of plastic in our sandbox. (Do they still have those?) The mission, should we decide to accept it, which we always did, was to blow them up. I was horrible at putting these cars together. The wheels never spun, the paint job was always bad, and the excess glue was always noticeable, so it really didn’t bother me to see these guys go. So there was careful planning and placement of the crackers. My brother and I would light them off one by one. After inspecting the damage, we would either continue with the current placement or adjust them before the next one was lit.

But I guess with age my enjoyment of fireworks has been more to watching and hearing them explode in different intensities and colors. Some of the best fireworks shows in the area are of course at MSUM in Moorhead. Plus several times a year, they have fireworks night at Newman Outdoor Field after a Redhawk game.

Just a note for the kids, I want to say always be safe when handling fireworks. Use them under adult supervision; never throw them at anybody or anything. And if your firecracker is a “dud” DON’T pick it up. I can tell you that from personal experience. It hurt like heck, and my fingers stung for days. I will never forget how dumb I was for doing that, when I was told hundreds of time of what might happen.

Hope you have, (or if you read this after Friday, “had”) a happy and safe 4th of July!