When I Learned Iceland Doesn't Run Out Of Fireworks

The fireworks started the evening of December 29th. Every five minutes I heard a pop that made my eyes dart to the nearest window to see if I could catch a glimpse. You see, growing up in Utah meant "big fireworks" (ie, real ones and not the pathetic little ones that sit on the ground and scream) were illegal, and therefore rare except for the few firework shows a year. Bottle rockets snuck across the border from Wyoming were about as big as you'd get in an average neighborhood full of thrifty Mormons. They have since legalized big fireworks in Utah, but 23 years of conditioning doesn't fade easily. It's like I grew up in the depression era of pyrotechnics and thus every precious firework must be savored no matter how many I see. Because of this, hearing crackles of fireworks every few minutes started to stress me out. Don't people know they need to save the fireworks til New Years Eve!? What if I miss all of them!? I WILL MISS ALL OF THEM, PEOPLE, AND I PROMISE I'M NOT BEING NEUROTIC RIGHT NOW.

My tension builds over the next 2 days and the frequency of crackels grows to about every other minute somewhere in the vicinity of my ears (but rarely my eyes). I have convinced myself that New Years Eve in Iceland won't actually be as good as what everyone says, because this year all the Icelanders decided to use up their stashes early. Ugh. What jerks.

Rúrik and I went to his house for a absolutely delicious New Years Eve dinner with his mom and brother, and then we all walked down the street to a bonfire. Rúrik asked me earlier in the evening if I had been to a bonfire before. Sure, I told him. They're a pretty common occurrence and my family has had one or two.

Ha. What I learned is I've actually been to big campfires, not a real bonfire.

It was huuuuuge.

And there was a great fireworks show all around us. OK Iceland, I thought, I'll admit you win for saving enough fireworks for a good show tonight. It's only 9:00PM, so surely you'll run out at this rate. But even so, I'm thankful for the show I got to see (eeeeven if it's a little indulgent to use them all before midnight).

After a couple hours of bonfire shenanigans, we walked back to Rúrik's house to watch the annual year in review comedy TV show the national broadcasting channel puts together. The fireworks ceased as everyone, I mean everyone, sat in their living rooms with friends and family to watch. It was the quietest 30 minutes in days.

And then the moment the show ended, about 30 minutes til midnight, it started.

It was unlike anything I had ever seen. And it didn't stop for over an hour. There was a major crescendo in the 15-20 minutes following midnight that ignited the entire capital area in one enormous fireball. It was face meltingly spectacular enough for me to forget to smooch my honey at 12 (don't worry, we got a good one in a couple minutes late).

Dear Iceland. I'm sorry for thinking you're a big selfish jerk and doubting you had enough fireworks for a good New Years Eve. Please forgive me. You showed me the greatest fireworks show I've ever seen in my life (and will probably ever see). I saw more fireworks last night than I had seen in my entire life combined. You win New Years. You win life. Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU. (Looove you.)

2013 has been one of the best years of my life and it was nice to show it out with a bang. I have more love, peace, joy, and creativity flowing through me than ever before. Bring it on 2014!