I grew up around Disneyland and Knott’s Berry Farm. Every night the fireworks blast away. I got so used to it, I never gave them a second thought.
In fact, my mom brought me to Disneyland (before COVID), where I experienced loud music, huge fireworks booming in the sky, crowds of people pressing in on me and a light show flashing around us. All of this craziness going on and it didn’t bother me. Magic even happened when it snowed on Main Street! I tried to catch the flakes on my tongue, but they didn’t taste good at all.
However, I’ve been with Christy four years and lived away from that noisy scene. I’d forgotten about all the bangs and rumbles.
New Year’s Eve 2020, we were visiting Auntie Cindy. She lives down the street from Knott’s Berry Farm. Although it was closed due to COVID and there would not be fireworks, Orange County still allows people to use fireworks and an hour before midnight, the loud noises started.
BANG! I cowered in the corner.
Mommy did everything she could to console me for three hours as random booms, sizzles and light flashes happened around the neighborhood. Mom held me, petted me, and put cotton in my ears, yet I still trembled. It was around 3 a.m. when we finally fell asleep.
Mommy’s heart was breaking, but she has a plan if there is a next time with loud bangs and flashes. I’m thankful it doesn’t include wearing any of this weird stuff I’m wearing in the photo.
If you have a fur-person in your family, make sure you have a plan set up for loud celebration times to keep them calm.
Here’s a place where you can get some ideas.