Little Lanterns

I was at a party in New Jersey last weekend. It was so balmy outside even at 9:30 at night. This is what I miss most about the East Coast. This and the summer thunderstorms. Then the lightning bugs came out, tiny sparkling lanterns of their own. I love the earthy way the air smells on summer nights back there. On July 4th in the Bay Area it is too cold to sit shivering on a quilt to watch distant fireworks through the fog. I stayed home and let my kids play in the driveway and light some ancient firecackers we found in the back of a drawer instead. I think I'm going to buy some little lanterns of my own...