July 24, 2005

• Chofu Fireworks 2005

  A fireworks show sponsored by the nearby city of Chofu took place on the 23rd.  We decided to try viewing it from the Inadadzutsumi side of the Tama River rather than the Chofu side, because the Chofu side is just too incredibly crowded.  I would call this year's seating choice a success, because there was no long sardine can beginning at the train station platform as there is on the Chofu side. 

  
  

  

  
  

  There is actually some space between the people as we walk comfortably to the riverbank.  I am experiencing no claustrophobia, nor have I an urge to scream out, "Stop pushing!!"

  
  

  

  
  

  Ok, here I am, I have my seat.

  
  

  

  
  

  I get to share my seat with a lot of others.  There were some specimens of these as long as my finger, but they got away before I could bag them.

  
  

  

  
  

  And the show begins!

  
  

  Here are my favorite pictures from the fireworks show.  I always have difficulties with the timing, because I have to keep the camera in focus with the shutter button half cocked, and attempt to finish to job at the height of the explosion, but I am usually too late to catch all of the lightwork.  Another factor is the fact that the entire firework is not all lit up at the same time.  I suppose that for satisfactory shots one must use a time exposure and real film. 

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  These two fireworks have two layers of "stars."  There were a couple or big ones sent up with four layers, all different colors, but I couldn't catch them.  I wish I could post a memory file!  What would the extension on that be?  .mem?  .mry? 

  
  

  

  
  

  This picture is not mine, but this is something like what it looks like.  The real thing is better, of course.

  
  

  

  
  

  This is a bit cosmic.

  
  

  

  
  

  A starry waterfall cascades over the river as the show nears an end.

  
  

  

  
  

  This is my favorite shot of the night.

  
  

  After the show was over, I started back to the station and noticed that the glasses that I had hung on my necklace were not there!  Horrors, I hate loosing things, especially things that are not cheap.  I had just gotten those glasses a couple of months ago.  I was able run back and find the place where I had been sitting, because the same people were still there, and they even helped me go through the grass where I had probably dropped them blade by blade in the dark, with no success.  I went back to the same place the next morning and went through the grass blade by blade in the light with no luck.  No one had turned in any glasses to the police lost and found department, either.  Aki suggested going back one more time in the afternoon for another look just to make me feel that we had really searched as thoroughly as possible, and this time HE FOUND THEM at the side of the path.  He sure was the hero of the day!  The glasses must have been slightly squashed by the tread of a very light damsel, as one of the nose pieces was bent and one lens was scratched a bit, but it could have been so much worse.  The bent piece has been straightened, and the scratch at the outside of the lens, not in the center.  Now when I see it, I have a reminder to be thankful for a small miracle.

  
  

  I know how much I hate loosing things, but God hates loosing His treasures even more.  I am reminded of the story in the Bible of the Good Shepherd who discovers that he has lost one of his 100 sheep, and leaves the 99 in a safe place and then goes out to find the one who is lost.  He does not give up because it is late or because He is tired, but searches for his beloved, treasured sheep until he finds it.  I thank God that he gave all that He had, even to his very life to find me.

  • 20:48
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