Fireworks

Tonight Princeton held its annual fireworks display at the baseball field, only this time it was attended by hordes -- maybe 3 times the normal number. It was also Graham's first time at the fireworks, and he did dig it, ooohing and aaahing like a seasoned pro. So there we were with everybody from Steve and Janet's gathering, lying on the blanket looking up, a gaggle of children clustered together but on the edge was Natalie, leaning against my leg, and on my other side Graham, leaning often against Mary but with his feet against me. And I could reach out and touch Mary's back, and I realized that for the first time in a long time I was touching all the members of my family at the same time. And it was nice.