Hello God. It's me, Mara

You know, Lord, back “last century” what a joy it was to be a kid — laws weren’t as strict about anything and everything. Several cousins recalled their fun with firecrackers. As soon as firecracker stands opened, kids would be there to buy. No rules about noise, everybody enjoyed the POP! BANG! which started a week before the Fourth of July and ended when kids ran out of firecrackers.

Here’s one lad’s recipe for rockets: small dish with a bit of water, a tin can (like beans come in), opened end in the water acting as a seal; a small hole punched in the unopened end to stick the firecracker in...