Bonfire of the Vanities

My step-son, Ian, was married this weekend.

But before that, there was a rehearsal. And after the rehearsal, there was a party at the home of Ian's dad in Rock Island, Illinois.

They had a bonfire going in the backyard while we were eating and standing in the yard. Quite a few kids were running around chasing each other through the lawn and burning off energy - having just come from a church rehearsal that afforded them no such opportunity.

All in all, it was a very cordial, relaxed atmosphere.

Then the fire truck arrived, blowing the horn with all the lights flashing.

The fire truck pulled into the parking lot behind the neighbor's house, near the bonfire.

Apparently, the neighbor had called the fire department complaining about the size of the fire.

The firemen were kind of apologetic about being there and did a token spraying of the perimeter (in case the neighbor was watching). Then, the firemen let the kids hold the hose and do some of the spraying. At this point, one of the firemen had a pretty good idea which he thought might keep the neighbor from calling in a complaint in the future. He asked all the kids, "Does anyone want to get up in the truck and blow the horn?" Excitedly, the kids took their turns sitting in the firetruck blowing the horn.

After all of this, with the firetruck diesel engine idling and lights flashing (still parked behind the neighbor's house) - it only seemed polite to invite the firemen into the house to wash up and fill up their plates with barbecued pork sandwiches... which they did.