I’ve got a few posts on the docket at the moment, but seeing as today was Victoria Day (a holiday celebrated in Canada since 1854–thanks Wikipedia!) I let my brain have most of the day off. In fact, the afternoon was basically spent walking around Riverdale (the east-Toronto neighbourhood where I live). My landlord was doing construction anyway, so I had to get out while the getting was good.

Somehow I had actually forgotten that this was a popular weekend for letting off fireworks. Of course, I was quickly reminded when the sun went down, as the colourful explosives littered the early evening sky. Bright bursts peeked above the Danforth like a breadcrumb trail in the woods, and my girlfriend and I couldn’t help but detour towards the most prevalent display in one of the many local parks.

The air was hazy with a strong musk of smoke and the prerequisite “oohs” and “ahhs” permeated the scene. In fact, everywhere you looked someone was lighting a fresh batch of pyrotechnics (be it in one of the many scattered wheelbarrows or a group of teenagers firing roman candles at each other) and children with sparklers could be seen far and wide.

Actually, I was impressed by the unkempt nature of the whole thing. We were able to just stroll through the park as explosions burst above us from all directions. I felt as though an extra in a happy and flamboyant recreation of a movie war scene.

All told, not only was this a great opportunity to reaffirm why I enjoy this neighbourhood so much, but it also served as an excellent reminder that it’s always good to get away from the laptop every once in a while.

—

Here are a few tunes befitting of the theme. The first is an old Canuck standard that I’m sure graced most cottages this weekend, while the latter is a down-tempo number from last year’s highly enjoyable Fall Horsie album, From the Seam of Doors, a Cone of Light:

The Tragically Hip - Fireworks

Fall Horsie - The Fireworks