From 72685228a7aacd6daa44da3833ac2eaeb80d1e39 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Collin Williams <96917990+bluedragon1221@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2024 20:03:03 -0500 Subject: move some stuff around --- src/md/32_The_Wedding_Proposal_Fiasco.md | 81 -------------------------------- 1 file changed, 81 deletions(-) delete mode 100644 src/md/32_The_Wedding_Proposal_Fiasco.md (limited to 'src/md/32_The_Wedding_Proposal_Fiasco.md') diff --git a/src/md/32_The_Wedding_Proposal_Fiasco.md b/src/md/32_The_Wedding_Proposal_Fiasco.md deleted file mode 100644 index f767a1f..0000000 --- a/src/md/32_The_Wedding_Proposal_Fiasco.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,81 +0,0 @@ ---- -title: The Wedding Proposal Fiasco ---- - -After a few years of doing my own fireworks, I guess I had built a -reputation in the family as the guy to see about doing something really -impressive for special occasions. Perhaps Dan Clark hadn\'t heard all -the family stories about the failures and fiascos, because he seemed to -have full confidence that I could create a memorable experience on the -occasion when he wanted to ask our daughter Emily to marry him. It was -sometime in the summer of 2001 when Dan asked me to create a fireworks -display where the finale would be a big sparkling depiction of the -proposal, \"Will you marry me, Emily?\" Dan had already done his duty -earlier and asked me for my permission to ask her the big question. Now -he wanted me to make a memory that would become legend in the family -annuls. In that regard, I was somewhat successful, but not quite the way -I had intended.\ -\ -For the next few weeks, I planned and constructed the fireworks show -that would be performed at the Miele farm about a half mile away from -our home in Windham. My plan was to construct the display for the -wedding proposal out of sparklers arranged in such a way as to spell out -the words of the question. The sparklers were mounted on a framework of -peg board sheets mounted to vertical posts that were sledge-hammered -into the ground. Now, the professionals often do something similar to -create a display of some kind of a figure, like an eagle head or some -other patriotic symbol, for fireworks show finales. However, they are -usually constructed using tubes of slow burning chemicals, called -\"lances\", such that the fiery display is visible for about 20 to 30 -seconds. I reasoned that I could create the same effect of using -sparklers instead of the customary lances. Unfortunately, I didn\'t have -time to test my new innovation to see if the effect would be the same. I -simply forged ahead confident that my knowledge of fireworks -construction was based on sound principles.\ -\ -The only real trick to the display, I reasoned, was to get all the -sparklers lit in a short amount of time, so the whole display was -visible at once. To do this, I created hundreds of feet of a special -kind of fuse called \"sticky match\". It is nothing more than a train of -gun powder placed down the middle of ordinary clear packing tape. When -properly attached to the ends of the sparklers, the sticky match was -supposed to burn very quickly, at approximately 10 feet per second, so -it would light all the sparklers in a matter of a few seconds. I could -just imagine in my mind the wonder and awe on the faces of my enraptured -audience when they beheld the majesty of my creation as it dramatically -lit the night sky.\ -\ -On the night of the fateful event, I successfully lit the smaller items -that I had constructed for the early part of the fireworks show. All was -going well until I lit the fuse for the finale. The sticky match worked -beautifully. It quickly raced along as intended and lit all the -sparklers in short order. However, the sparklers burned so hot that they -didn\'t just burn at the tip, like a sparkler is supposed to do. Instead -of creating a nice sparkly sentence, the whole display went up in a big -ball of fire and then went out just as suddenly. Instead of gasps of -excitement and cheers from the audience, there was only an awkward air -of confusion. Dan Clark knew it was his big moment and did some quick -thinking to salvage the opportunity of his lifetime. He quickly ran over -to where Emily was standing and got down on one knee and asked Emily if -she would be his wife for time and all eternity. Before Emily could -answer, I explained to her that I had constructed a final fireworks -piece that would allow her to reply with more than a verbal \"yes or -no\". I had made two fireworks fountains for this purpose. If Emily lit -one of them, the answer would be no, but if she lit two, the answer -would be yes.\ -\ -The night air was tense with anticipation as Emily slowly made her way -over to the place where the two fountains awaited her choice. She lit -the first one, which shot a few paltry sparks about 5 feet into the air. -Then, she lit the second one. It was a huge monster that ejected bright -golden sparks nearly 80 feet into the air. It was intended to be a -dramatic way to say, \"Of course I will marry you!!\" It was a memorable -contrast to the earlier epic failure. This time, I achieved the effect I -had hoped to see on the faces of everyone present as the huge fountain -roared to life and filled the darkness with a spectacular painting of -fire.\ -\ -Fortunately, the final success erased the shame of the first failure. It -was a night to remember and an eternity to celebrate. The results of -that decision have been just as spectacular and will build a legacy of -love and devotion that will endure forever. -- cgit v1.3.1