Besty's reflection: Fourth of July fireworks

When the last glow of light drops below the western cornfield, a tracer shoots into the sky. The crowd, now hundreds strong, cheers.

Fireworks shoot up from two locations down the hill. The largest displays arc high over our heads, and bits of soot and ash reign down on our faces and hair. Sometimes, even chunks of cardboard casings fall on our blankets. I doubt this country fireworks show is totally safe, but it sure is fun!

After the boom, boom, boom, great-guns, whiz-bang finale, the lights to the ballpark snap on and we pick up our blankets and make our way back to the car. Then we creep our way out of town with the windows down, listening to smaller fireworks going off in backyards. Once out of town, it's nothing but cornfields and beanfields with cool, summer air streaming in the windows. What a perfect night.

Read more of Betsy's adventures in her blog.