Today my asthma is really kicking my butt. I can’t go more than a minute or two between wheezy coughs. I was holding off on using my inhaler until my art for today was done. The relief it give comes with a cost of shakiness, so not great for making art. Not that coughing and wheezing are much better. I decided to call this piece Gasping for Air, since that’s what I was doing while finishing up. Now, my rushed lines are part of the story.

It’s finally starting to quiet down a bit- the space between booms is increasing slightly as my neighbors exhaust their firework stockpiles. I alway wonder what an alien visitor would think if they happened to visit on the Fourth of July. It is quite crazy around here, I imagine it’s the same across the country. Do other countries have holidays celebrated with oodles of fireworks? I have a feeling this is a uniquely American phenomenon. It seems strange to me and I’ve lived here all my life.

What are your experiences with fireworks for this holiday or any other celebration?