I opened the door and stepped out onto the deck as four sets of paws scurried pat me.

We weren’t on the deck two minutes before fireworks began. The dogs panicked and seemed to squeeze through the door all at once.

The boomers are coming from the south, west, and north. I suppose they’re s also coming from the east, too, but I’m on the west side of the house.

Tonight, I saw one firefly.

One.

As a child I can remember seeing hundreds at a time. They covered our yard, all the immediate neighbors, and neighbors down the street.

I miss the fireflies.