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Submitted: April 26, 2007
Image Size: 3.7 MB
Resolution: 2160×2160

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Fourth of Julyby ~1footonthedawn

Digital Art / Fractal Art

I've been hearing "Saturday In The Park" in my head.

It reminds me of the blanket on the soft summer grass. The smell of OFF. The whine of mosquitos. Fireflies gleaming in the shrubs and trees, occasionally right overhead, or just ahead of the toddler with a Dixie cup and a hopeful expression. It's hours till full dark. The ducks have their fill of stale bread. There are a couple of trips across the railroad tracks to the convenience store bathrooms. They bring back Icee drinks and melting candy bars. I smell sun-warmed baby hair as someone in dry big-girl pants reclines in my lap. The other two are watching some kids who have sparklers in the gathering gloom. I remember my brother stepped on a sparkler once, resulting in some incredibly painful burns. These guys have a bucket they're using for the dead ones, so there's no need for anyone to come arrest them.

The picnic is distributed, but everyone is full of candy and daddy must finish their sandwiches. We walk carefully among half-full glasses of ants and lemonade.

At last it's dark enough and the firework show begins. They have my favorite, the ones with the white squiggly-snakes, and they have some of those perfect big full spider ones that are more intricate than any dandelion puffball. The finale is noisy and brilliant, with all the colors from #000000 to #FFFFFF. The smoke drifts over to where we are, its acrid and rich smell making the sleepy kids crinkle their noses. They are whiney and tired, and the fireworks have apparently not met their expectations after such a long wait. We adults are braced for their behavior, but not enchanted by it. There's one more trip to the bathroom while the worst of the traffic has a chance to get ahead of us. We sit in the car, the babies asleep, while each green light gets progressively closer. We finally get on the interstate, alert for drunks, watching other firework shows still going on over the city. Next year, we think, we'll try that show. We haven't yet. There's something about the duck pond and the fireflies. Some years we go to the base for their air show, carnival, live music, and fireworks. The terrorists have caused them to cancel that show some years. Other years we keep going back to the duck pond.

The fireworks gleam in the hair of my children, and in their sleepy eyes. A firefly lands on my son's shoulder. One lost shoe is in the next family's "camp."

If my life flashes before my eyes at the end I hope I remember those moments more than any others.

love 1 1

joy 1 1

~~wow 0 0~~

~~mad 0 0~~

~~sad 0 0~~

~~fear 0 0~~

~~neutral 0 0~~

=Lucy-Merriman Jul 4, 2008 Student General Artist

Wow. This is the swiz. I love your word picture in the description as well.

~x-winterhearted-x Mar 24, 2008

I love the colors, great job!

~fanficbug Mar 20, 2008 Hobbyist Digital Artist

Hi there!

This fractal has been included in my bi-monthly newsletter showcasing unique fractal art, NEVER DUPLICATED FRACTALS!

Please tell me if you wish not to be included in future editions. Either way, congratulations!