4th of July in Bellingham

The 4th of July in Bellingham is vivid display of firepower; both professional and amateur. About an hour before dusk, everyone and their mother starts setting off grocery store firecrackers in their backyards. Any given neighborhood sounds like Kosovo. At dusk, everyone swarms the bay, where a pyrotechnics crew unleashes a nearly hour-long session from a barge out on the water. I hear Seattle's showing is unbelievable, and maybe next year we'll get down to the Emerald City to celebrate the Nation's birth.

However, the best part is saved for last in Bellingham. All the citizens who watched the fireworks on-or-near the water set off every last bottle rocket or banshee as soon as the professional showing is over. The Bay lights up from the southern edge of the city, near Fairhaven (our neighborhood), to the northern tip of the city, and even out into the San Juan islands. Also, the part I enjoyed best is that the boats in the bay all toot their horns simultaneously after the show. Reminded me of Wisconsin cows mooing out in the pasture...except cooler. I've never been a big fan of fireworks, but Bellingham's weren't bad.