Paul- I am glad you saw those fireworks too. It always amazes me how certain sights, sounds, smells will conjure up a past memory. 

Really? You are? It comes down to the old question: How much of tomorrow will you give up for the pleasure of this moment? 

You don't have to answer that, since I'm afraid to answer it myself :) 

Nice writing! (Should it read "Fire in my Neck"??)

Paul, just the pain that you describe makes me cringe. With that said, I am glad that you got what you wanted.

Why Paul, you risk taker you! You would have never found out if you could see them unless you tried. Just like life, isn't it?

You are quite the writer, Paul!  Great story and great reflection on life itself--you never know how wonderful life can be if you're overly cautious!

"Aquarians...these are strong-willed, independent spirits with high ideals.....This weekend brings keen intuitions and a suspension of reason and rational thought..."
--Lola Babylon in "The Messenger"  Topanga's newspaper

It is risky to try to glimpse the fire, Impulses can lead to both brilliant flights and wild falls.  I'm finding that the flights outnumber the falls, and can be well worth the risk.

P.S.  I was in a back brace/cast at 14, too.

This begs the question....how did you end up in the brace to begin with (or do I not want to know?)

What a stellar post for the new group.  Nicely done, Paul.  While I was going to make a reference and subsequent link to Fire In The Sky With Slaybaugh....I'll leave it be for now:-)

Your determination to see that Fire In The Sky proves to be a welcoming thought of how you handle life in general. What a determined,mindful soul you are. 

Katerina:  Thank you.  In this case, it was, quite literally, a pain in my neck that brought the memory back. 

Jennifer:  Yes, I am.  Living for tomorrow assumes that it is promised to us.  Who knows?  I might be saddled with this gimpy neck even if I followed doctor's orders explicitly.  I am generally very prudent in my choices, but sometimes you just have to throw logic out the window and just live.  The auto industry knows this.  People don't buy a new car.  They buy new car smell. You know?

Danny:  It was far from pleasant, I assure you.  But it beat sitting on the sidelines.

Linda:  Very true, and I most likely would have convinced myself that I didn't miss anything spectacular either.  That is a bad frame of mind to develop.  It gets easier to tell yourself such a thing with each new choice.  Pretty soon, you end up stuck in your safe little cocoon.  Never coming out for the world to admire your beautiful wings.

Debe: Thank you so much.  You are right on in that life is a contact sport.  Safety is not always a good thing.

Elaine:  I need the backstory (pun intended).  What happened?

Lisa:  It was the result of my first ever trip to the gym with my dad.  I was all over the place trying to impress him with my budding strength.  I'll never forget it happening.  I just finished a set of dips in which I was really straining and writhing to force myself up on the last few reps.  I turned my head to right and pain just exploded in my neck.  I spent the next day with my head tilted to the right side, unable to lift or turn it.  I couldn't eat (chewing hurt too much), lay down ... anything.  My mom took me to the doctor when she noticed a large swelling on the back of my neck.  Sorry for the visual, but it looked like a hernia.  Long story long, I tore all of the muscles along the back and right side of my neck, which then contracted and were pushing outward.  On top of spraining the vertebrae.  It was nasty.  Three times a day, I had to have bare ice rubbed against the affected area.  I DO NOT recommend it.

Sardi:  LOL!  You are a man of great restraint. ;)

Julie:  When properly motivated, you are correct.  I am not easily deterred.  I appreciate your thoughts.

Paul,  Ouch and Wow at the same time.  I can't imagine the pain, yet I was cringing while reading and then I found myself reading faster and faster and then I realized that my hands were sweaty and I was breaking into a sweat.  Wow!

Marc:  I hope you didn't drop a cocktail from those sweaty hands!  Thanks for reading this, my friend.  I appreciate you experiencing the emotion with me. 

Paul - I could feel the pain while reading this, too.  I'm glad you got a chance to see the fireworks that night, but I feel bad for you that you have lingering pain.  Nice writing, bud.

Jason - It is true that my glass neck is most likely a result of my foolishness that night, but I am proud of the choice I made.  I was true to myself.  Thanks for reading it.

Paul,

Very moving!  I'm sure, to this day, you can close your eyes and see that amazing display.

I can indeed, Martin.  I can't really recall the patterns or sequence, but the colors were indelible.