Lightening, full moon and fireworks, oh my…..

There is nothing like the celebrations of a small town for the July 4^th holiday. Parades, concerts, kids on bikes, corn on the cob. That list is endless. Last summer when we were visiting Las Cruces, we sat on a friend’s patio drinking wine and toasting the different fire works displays. This year, our first living in Las Cruces, I wanted something different and so a plan was hatched.

Mrsfabp went to the concert in a local park that was to be followed by the city’s fireworks display. But rather than hanging out there, I picked her up early, loaded Skippy along with a couple of Gin and Tonics, grabbed a sandwich and headed to the west side of the city, Picacho Hills.

This is a nice area, with lots of nice homes surrounding a country club. Unfortunately the housing market went bust before it was all completed. So, along with many, many homes, there are roads to nowhere, cul-de-sacs with no homes on it but more importantly, a spectacular view of the entire city of Las Cruces and beyond. We have gone there before for a picnic and to watch the lights come on in the city at night but this trip was going to be even more spectacular.

We set up on a hill on an empty house lot and awaited the show. By 8:15, the private fireworks displays had started and by 9 pm, there were firework blasts all over the street and home lights. At 9:30, the city fireworks began and of course, they were really nice. I mean all fireworks displays are nice (sorry Sam Diego).  

But then something really spectacular occurred. At the south east side of the city, an almost full moon rose out of some clouds. It had lit the clouds from behind but was not able to be seen in its grandeur until the city fireworks were almost done. Then at the extreme north-east side of the city, a lightening storm lit up the clouds in the sky with only occasional bolts of lightening visible. It was a visual display, unmatched in my mind by any Independence Day celebration I had ever seen. I mean kids bikes and high school bands are great and all but I take moonshine, lightening and fireworks over the city any time.