Dangerous times

The other day I saw something stunning on the news. I could not believe for a minute what I had just heard.

It was two different people giving reasons why fireworks should not be banned. They both indicated that they had their right to have their fun. Implicit in their attitude was a go-to-hell if you disagree.

I don't know where these people have been or where they live, but obviously they do not live in my circumstances or those of all the people who live out here in the country.

Twice every year, New Year's and the Fourth of July, we must worry and watch for careless people who may inadvertently burn us down.

Just to give us as an example - four heifer calves would surely die if our place gets on fire. Our barn that still has some hay in it to help feed the calves would make a conflagration that would burn easily. And our pastures are thick with grass and forage because of the 20 inches of rain we got in 2007, but that are now tinder dry. That would go up in a fast-moving fire fed by a wind that, depending on direction, also would burn up everything in the out buildings that have been here and used by us for 32 years, including tractors, swathers, vehicles and bailers.

And yes there is some gasoline in cans for using and oil. Then of course there is the house full of junk, but it is precious to me because it is my junk - like books, pictures of ancestors and the usual that people collect for a lifetime.

And there is Pup we would have to be sure to save, but also four feral cats that I could not catch to save.

But the important thing to these two people quoted on the newscast is that they have a right to have their fun. God help us all!
Please, please, please do not come out to the country to fire off fireworks.

Doris Duncan
Gardendale