It is, supposedly, though really quite what it is all about it is a bit of a mystery to me, here in Amish country in particular it seems CdM will pass us by without so much as a...er... um.... a cohete, probably just as well given that Philly goes by Killadelphia. At any rate; there was no mention on the plane ride in and no mentioned during the day and absolutely no mention anywhere except on the calendar for the hotel which has CINCO DE MAYO highlighted for today.  More amazing is the fact that CdM celebrates the Battle of Puebla and the defeat of the French in 1862, seems to have passed over for many people. Cinco de Mayo is often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16.  The victory itself is even only somewhat celebrated in Mexico, mostly in Puebla but for Yankee Doodlers it is fast gaining popularity  where it is becoming a cultural event. Just not right here in PA.

The earliest recollection I have of fireworks was in the early 1970's, must have been before 1973 because by that date I was already in Junior School,  whichever year it was, I remember two things happening, fireworks and an eclipse of the sun. We used welder's glass lenses to look at the sun for eclipse, and the fireworks, well they were just super novel. Fireworks were banned up until 1979 and I remember around that time buying a rocket at the local greek corner cafe with my friend Mario. We were so thrilled at the fact that A:) We bought it and B:) it was illicit, that we couldn't resist setting it off, in the middle of the day... what bozos..... boys, matches and fireworks.....