This was me on New Year’s Eve. Our friends, Ricardo and Karenita, hosted a beach bonfire. It was a family-friendly way to spend the evening. The night was gorgeous! It was clear, cool, with little wind and no clouds.
There were many other bonfires up and down the beach that night. We were treated to an illegal fireworks display thanks to the people next to us. We really enjoyed it until the police put a smack down on them…
Their next prank brought the fire department running…
They rigged up a little hot air balloon with a few craft sticks, a candle, some string and a plastic bag. They launched their contraption at the water’s edge. It glowed beautifully as the gentle breeze lifted up and away. We watched it until it disappeared high in the atmosphere behind some wispy clouds. The boys thought it was the coolest thing ever.
But then the fire department showed up, truck and all… The SBFD went to each beach party and said that they didn’t care who did it and didn’t want to know but they did not want to see another hot air balloon go up. If the wind shifted and the thing fell on the city then there would be real problems. They had a point.
J remembered making those homemade hot air balloons when he was in school. A teacher took his class out to a field in the middle of the city and taught everyone how to make them. Times have changed a bit, it would seem.
So, the demise of the Christmas tree! Right!
When I found out about the bonfire and heard that the hosts were bringing a Christmas tree to burn, my thoughts immediately went to our wilted, dried out tree. I insisted that J disrobe the tree while I prepared dinner. The thought of it lying in a sad heap on the street until the city came to pick it up just did not seem right. Why not send it up in a blaze of glory?
We chucked the nude tree in the back of J’s truck and headed to the beach after dinner (we had black-eyed peas, of course). At the very end of the evening, J tossed it onto the fire. The flames engulfed our tree in no time. It burned very quickly and very hot then it was gone. Almost in the blink of an eye.
I think we should do this with all of our Christmas trees from now on.
It seems like the proper way to send off a tree that has served us well.
After the fire, we came home and let the boys toss colored smoke bombs into the street. Second to the hot air balloon, they thought it was the coolest thing ever…
Adventures of Four 