Missouri-I was Just There!

  

I’m not a fireworks person. My kids partake, as do my grand-kids and my step kids and my boyfriend.  Pyromaniacs surround me.   

So we went on a mini-vacation last weekend.  We went to a far corner of Nebraska and camped in a beautiful spot.  Like a lot of people this year with this virus, we camp more.  Well, camping?  I’m not much of a camper without air conditioning and a shower.  My man’s got a nice camper with electricity and plumbing. 

This far corner of Nebraska, named Indian Cave State Park, happens to be half an hour from Missouri.  In Missouri, just across the Nebraska-Missouri borders set fireworks stores.  I counted eight.  

It’s definitely the place for pyromaniacs. 

We stopped at the first store just across the state line to check prices and vowed to return for the deals after shopping at the others. 

Upon entrance to the second store, the man at the counter immediately asked if we’d been there before.  We hadn’t.  He gave the three kids their pick of TWO fireworks from long tables marked 99 cents.  At the mention of FREE, I knew we couldn’t walk out of the store without purchase.  My man blew up $40. The kids each spent the $5 I donated to the cause.  I abstained.    

On to the next store right across the interstate. The sign outside said, “We Deal!” 

The kids browsed the selection of sparklers and things that explode.  Chickens and dogs that poop when their butts are lit? Really?  Does anyone need that?

The youngest firebug is eight.  She hasn’t reached the stage to make money doing extra chores like the older duo.  I bailed her out to the tune of $24 for a tank and a fancy sword.

The kids spent the allotted $5 I gave them plus more of what they had in their pockets. 

I’m not sure what the boyfriend spent. He said, “Don’t ask.”

My boyfriend, the leader of our fiery tour, stood in line while the three mini-me’s wasted their money. At his turn, he asked the clerk, “What kind of a deal can you make us?”

The friendly clerk added all the amounts and replied, “You can go back and pick $25 free fireworks.”

Half an hour later, we left that store with a stash of fireworks worthy of satisfying even the most experienced pyrotechnic.

We headed back to our campsite.

Except there was that one store we passed on the way with the big wheel to spin that stated, “Everyone’s a Winner-No Purchase Necessary!”

At the mention of FREE, what else could we do but stop and spin?

I won some fun little strobe lights.  Nice pretty quiet. 

The two older kids and boyfriend got some noisemaker miniature firecrackers.

When the youngest stepped up to the plate, I said, “Win something big!”

She spun and won $20 free illuminating pleasure.  What luck!  Her win saved me that last $5 I was going to dish out.

I wasn’t without the bug of explosives.  I picked out two packages of neon sparklers at a cost of around $3.

One the way back to the campsite, for real, we couldn’t visit the closed ice cream parlor in Brownville.  Because of the virus, we didn’t even attempt a stop at the vineyard to grab a bottle of their grape dessert wine that I love but the fireworks stores of Missouri were enough of a detonative adventure.   

So far, nobody’s lost any fingers.   

Check out all my work at http://annettesnyder.atspace.com/  or just click on the tabs to learn more.  

Have a great week and stay healthy.