It’s the last big fireworks of the night and this rack is the biggest, with three tiers of firecrackers ready to be shot out over the audience. The announcer starts the count down and we in the crowd count along with her, three, two, one. The rockets start spewing out from the rack, streaks of orange passing over us, and the sound of explosions somewhere behind us like we’re in the middle of an oven full of popcorn. Where I’m standing the rockets seem to be firing right at me, the orange trails just passing over my head; it feels like I’m a soldier under fire. Every once in while a firecracker will actually fall into the crowd, exploding close by, sending sparks flying. I can feel one hit my leg, another hits my left arm, and a one even pings off my visor in a disconcerting way. Despite this I’m not scared, I feel secure in my protective gear. It is a visceral experience.