Friday, October 11th was my birthday. I didn't plan a special celebration, but by golly Cal High did. I was at my computer reading a Yahoo blog when I heard a lot of cracking and popping noise. I went outside and there were a lot of cars parked along Mangos, but I didn't see anyone outside.
The noise was coming from up the street, so I started walking up to see what it was. That's when the skyrockets went off. Oh my, one of my neighbors must be setting off illegal fireworks again. There were a lot of them coming from that part of Mangos on July 4th after the City Council cancelled San Ramon's annual fireworks display. I thought I should call the cops, but I kept walking closer to where they were coming from.
The displays in the sky grew bigger and brighter and more professional looking as I got closer to the bike bridge over the creek to the back of Cal High. That's where they were coming from.
I wondered why fireworks were being set off from Cal High. I saw a man walking back across the bridge and asked him what the fireworks were for. He didn't know either.
He lived in the neighborhood, I think on Ensenada, and came over to see what they were too. He said there was some event going on at the High School, but he didn't know what it was. I said it might be for my birthday, which is October 11th. He thought that was as good a reason as any; so he wished me happy birthday and got into his car to drive back to his house.
As I walked the half-block back to my house I was surprised that nobody else came out to see what all the ruckus was about. Maybe like the man from Ensenada, they all went over the bridge to Cal High too.
After I got back home I phoned my neighbor Sally to ask if she found the little dog she was looking for earlier in the evening. The dog ran out of a yard behind her house, probably frightened by all the noise. She said the dog came back on its own.
Sally asked if she could bring over a pear and cheese pie she just baked. It was the first time she made it and wanted me to try it. I've never had a pear and cheese pie and I would never think of making one. I figured this would be my only opportunity to try it, so I told her to bring it over.
Sally came over with the pie, which looked wonderful. She put a candle in the center and lit it and sang Happy Birthday. Then I cut a slice and ate it. It was good but not a combination I would want to eat again.
I asked Sally if she knew about the fireworks. She thought it was for Homecoming Week. I've lived down the street from Cal High for 15 years and I don't remember fireworks coming from there before. Now that the 4th of July fireworks have been cancelled, maybe my birthday will be the new tradition for fireworks in San Ramon.
