A Creative Journal

Blast from the Past Journal Writing Prompt

by Heather Goldsmith on July 2nd, 2008

The Lifestyle Channel is having another fun blogging event. This time it’s just like a cool journal writing prompt for you. The idea is to write about a memory that relates to the 4th of July holiday, fireworks, summer, etc. As I live in Australia, the date means little to me personally, although I’m fully aware of what it means to Americans. But I’m going with the fireworks idea, instead.

The first memory of firecrackers, as we used to call them, for me has to be Guy Fawkes night. For us it was simply cracker night and from all I can remember and research fell on the evening of November 5th. In the lead up to this event my older brother and I would spend whatever pocket money we could gather on throwdowns and tom thumbs. We left it up to dad to provide the more spectacular crackers that only he was allowed to set off in our backyard near the fireplace.

I remember the excitement that only comes from anticipation leading up to the night. With our pockets stuffed with our goodies to let off later in the night, we’d sprawl out on the grass on our tummies watching dad place the fat firecrackers into separate empty milk bottles, tie Catherine wheels onto the Hills Hoist clothes line and gather other assorted delights on top of the old brick barbie. Of course we always grew too restless and would set off some of our own stash while we waited.

The best part was watching the rockets shoot off into the night sky and explode into colourful flashes of light above us. Our neighbours also let off crackers. These joined in to make quite a show. The constant pop and crackle of the fireworks would always make me push my fingers into my ears to dull the sound. The beat of my heart would pump loud in my ears. At some stage the crackers would run out and we’d light sparklers, which we’d use to draw and write across the black velvet of the early summer night. We’d place the tom thumbs in an old canoe dad left in the backyard and pretend the army figures belonging to my brother were in a real war. I can’t recall having as much fun at any other time.

Sadly, because people aren’t always responsible and/or accidents happen there were often terrible burns, in particular of children, on that night and the event was eventually banned. This must’ve happened fairly early in NSW, where I lived as a child, because my memories are from when I was quite young. I do recall the deep disappointment of not being able to play with fire in our own backyard anymore.

So, what about you? Write up an entry about an event for the 4th of July or a similar celebration where you live or lived as a child. I hope you enjoy this journal writing prompt.

Heather
Photo used with permission from Morguefile

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