WHAT’S UP -- Steve Smith

It seems common these days to wonder where the meaning of the Fourth

of July has gone, as if it’s on vacation at a beach somewhere or lost in

a forest.

I fully expect to see Independence Day appear on the back of my next

milk carton. The bold, black headline will read, “Have you seen it?” and

will feature a picture of a calendar with July 4 circled, or perhaps a

shot of the flag.

The meaning of Independence Day and our style of celebrating it hasn’t

gone anywhere. Over the years, we’ve just decided to mark the occasion in

a way that many people believe does not properly honor our nation’s

history or our sacrifices.

But the legacy of Independence Day is a difficult one to live up to,

particularly when you consider what it is we are supposed to be

celebrating. The final sentence of the Declaration of Independence reads,

“And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the

protection of Divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our

Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

Among the signers were Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas

Jefferson.

“Our lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor” is not something that

many people are willing to commit to these days, except when we want a

new car. Even the president pledges only to preserve, protect and defend

the Constitution “to the best of my ability.” Nothing in there about

giving his life or fortune.

For Costa Mesans, the celebration starts right now. It’s the time of

year when every Tom, Dick and Harry outsider who never gives Costa Mesa a

second thought comes crawling into town, begging for the one thing few

other communities can give him; what few towns have the good sense or

courage to supply. All of a sudden, Costa Mesa is one of the hottest

places in the Southern California.

Yes, it’s fireworks time.

Most of the 15 years we’ve lived in Costa Mesa, our neighborhood has

had a community fireworks show in a large driveway. Our designated

ringers, Norm and Lucille Fricker, worked an Estancia High fireworks

booth and they’d always come back and tell us what was new and exciting.

On the morning of July 4, it was the duty of each of a few households to

visit the fireworks stand supporting our favorite charity and load up on

our favorite rockets. For years, it seems, “Monster Parade” has been the

show stopper.

Most of the parents would sit in beach chairs while one or two of us

became designated lighters. The kids, unable to sit still, would bounce

around, always staying clear of the sparks. So many of us were there,

including Mason and Sharon Steel and their daughter Marissa, the Frickers

brought daughters Cari and Matie, now grown and gone, and there were

always a few stragglers. The Steels, too, have moved on.

We’d be outside in the dark for at least an hour, and it was fun. Much

of the fun was knowing that we weren’t doing anything illegal, that at a

time when nearly all of the county had legislated away one of the

country’s most fun traditions, sparking a few fireworks in Costa Mesa was

still sanctioned.

One might think that in a town with at least one of Southern

California’s best restaurants -- Gustav Anders -- a world-class

performing arts center, one of the nation’s busiest shopping malls, the

state’s second most popular Asian tourist attraction -- California

Scenario -- and on and on, that fireworks would be no big deal. But they

are, simply because they are so much fun to watch.

Many communities stopped the sale of fireworks out of the fear of

fires breaking out all over town. And indeed, I have driven down streets

in Costa Mesa that looked war-torn. But fire danger? Thanks in part to

the fine prevention work of the Costa Mesa Fire Department, incidents of

fires over the holiday is not a serious problem.

As we were instructed many years ago, our fireworks are exploded in an

area away from anything combustible and we always have plenty of water

nearby.

So here’s a welcome to all of those from Irvine, Newport Beach and

points beyond who wander in and sneak back, secretly lighting their

fireworks in their home cities. While you’re here, we won’t ask for your

life or your sacred honor, just a small part of your fortune.

* STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and freelance writer. Readers

may leave a message for him on the Daily Pilot hotline at (949) 642-6086.