an inherent cultural passion for things that went boom, perhaps

[mmegaera]

No, definitely. I love fireworks. The fireworks at our local military base (Fort Lewis, Washington) are spectacular every year, and this year was no exception.

*And,* in spite of dire weather predictions the entire preceding week, we had sunshine and 70s all day, and a clear, cloudless, warm-for-us (60s) fireworks time.

This is the third Independence Day since I moved to western Washington twelve years ago that it hasn't rained at some point.

I mostly consider myself a citizen of the world first, and an American second, but I still like being one (g).