If Only I Could Sleep Like That!

Last night we rung in the New Year (the Chinese one, that is) -- the Year of the Ox-- with much vim and vigor. Living right outside the city where fireworks are permitted, we witnessed fantastic displays of vibrant color and DEAFENING NOISE. Our apartment windows face an open field which wins "Most Popular Fireworks Setoff Location of the Year" award. You would think we were in a war zone--exactly how I imagine a sound clip from a Civil War battlefield! We let the girls stay up an extra hour and watched fireworks together out their bedroom window. And then, wonder of wonders, they fell asleep. There was a steady stream throughout the night, with-- I'm not kidding-- no greater than a 30 second gap between 6pm and 1am. When it was bedtime, we decided that we'd seen enough and at least we could try to sleep... For awhile, we tossed and turned, and then gave up and opened the curtains again. At midnight there were no fewer than 8 major displays going off at the same time, for over an hour. After I got over resenting the missed sleep, it was pretty cool. When is the last time you got to snuggle in the arms of your beloved while watching such a scene out your bedroom window?


Since I have no video editing skill (or software), I'm afraid this clip doesn't show the dramatic ending that it is supposed to-- the sheer wonder of a peacefully sleeping child in the midst of ear-splitting racket! If only I could sleep like that!