Forgive me, reader, for I have sinned. I have omitted details about my life, which could forever change how you view me.
I am a dangerous woman. I run with scissors. I play with bombs.
It all began several years ago when my friends asked if I'd like to make a little extra money helping them on a project. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I agreed anyway. Little did I know I'd end up wearing as little as possible, rolling around in the dirt, getting sweaty with a group of people – some of whom were complete strangers – and becoming absolutely hooked on playing with explosives.
Please don't look at me with fear or disapproval. I mean you no harm. Honestly. I do these things for the greater good. Willingly.
Oh, sure, the activities to which I've confessed are easily explained. I'm sure you'll find me less threatening when you allow me to explain.
May I be frank with you? Yes? Good.
Barring incapacitating injuries, I'm a nurse, which solves the running with scissors. And, to help you understand about the bombs: I'm part of a pyrotechnics crew. I help create the fireworks displays seen on the 4th of July.
I must confess, I love fireworks. I love the bright, dazzling, ever-changing display of lights in the night sky, I love the oohs and aahs of the crowd, and more than anything, I've come to love the process of creating an explosive spectacular in unbearably difficult conditions. I am a pyrotechnics junkie.
I've had many people ask why I enjoy doing fireworks.
"Isn't it dangerous? Aren't you afraid? What if something terrible happens?"
Yes, it can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing or fail to pay attention. I also live in Southern California where the heat can be quite intense. It's not unusual for our crew to work under the blazing sun, with the mercury in the thermometer reaching over 100 degrees. We're hot, the bombs are hot, we're exhausted, and the dirt and sweat often blur our vision and leave our hands slick.
I could be afraid, I probably should be afraid, but that's nearly impossible when you work with such consummate professionals and are having so much fun. Yes, fun. Lots and lots of fun! Big fun, even. So much fun, in fact, that I recruit some of my "always play it safe", non-pyro friends to come join us.
The leader of the crew is my friend, Jim. He's a licensed pyrotechnician as well as a firefighter and paramedic. My other friend – Jim's girlfriend, Sandi – is a former cop who now works as a flight attendant. In the beginning, we also had a young man who grew up in the fireworks business. That's what his family did. He'd been around fireworks all his life and was very knowledgeable in pyrotechnology. These three people had been working together long enough to establish extremely safe habits in a potentially dangerous environment. By the time I came along, it was obvious they knew what they were doing and I heeded their instructions and warnings without question.
Article comments
1 - Victor Plenty
Thanks for this vivid glimpse into the world of a fireworks crew. It's a world full of details most of us can only guess at, and you've brought some of those details into a focus and context rarely seen.
In addition to "explosive woman," I'd say "talented writer" is another label you can carry with pride.
2 - Joan Hunt
Thanks, Victor.
I can't tell you how much I missed working a show this year. It gnawed at my soul and my gut all day long. I wanted to be out there so badly. Next year. Next. Year.
3 - Christopher Rose
Great article, Joan. I too love fireworks but as a spectator only so far. Didn't realise there was so much work to do, what a heroine!
4 - Joan Hunt
No heroine, Cabana Boy. Merely a bit insane.
I never knew how much work went into a pyro show until I became involved myself. And, remember, the show I'm discussing here is one of the smaller ones.
I've also worked on loading the barges for bigger shows viewed from the shores of San Diego. That's a few days worth of work and a lot of wiring.
Then there's the show I set up with just one other person -- Jim. It was a lot of fun, but we had a couple of major concerns to plan around. 1) We were in a neighborhood known for gang activity and the police kept a bit of a lookout during the day. 2) We had to have the fire department with us because the construction company had deposited a fuel tank on the site. D'oh!
No heroics here, I'm afraid, only fun.