I drove around the block, and dealt with the local traffic for the few minutes it took me to return. She ran over and hopped in my car. "Take me for a ride."

"Where?"

"Anywhere, just drive Ok?"

Definitely wacky. I drove down to the water. It was getting dark, and the fireworks were just starting.

"Can we watch the fireworks for a while?" she asked.

"Of course. You want to go down and walk the beach?"

"I'd like that. You don't mind?"

"Not at all."

We spent a good hour watching all the private fireworks that people were setting off, bracketed by the city fireworks at each end of...