Like a zillion other folks, I’m a sucker for fireworks displays. I feel deprived when I don’t catch at least one of them each year. My wife Sandy and I saw magnificent fireworks in Philadelphia this past July. And a fine show was gifted, once again by Philadelphia, to us and our pals Cindy and Gene (and a host of other celebrants) on the final evening of 2023. The four of us watched that New Year’s Eve extravaganza, an annual Philadelphia affair, from atop a parking garage near the Delaware River. In the middle of the river sat a barge from which the rockets were launched.
On the garage roof, I behaved exactly as I expected I would. Meaning, I oohed and aahed as the air shook mightily and the darkened skies filled with starbursts (mostly in stately whites, golds, greens and reds) that danced and interwove for all they were worth. I damn well had a great time.
Still, a day or two later I was in need of further blasts of colors, though I didn’t recognize their call right away. Bold, brash colors, as it turned out, not the more subdued ones that predominated on New Year’s Eve. Was I a bit down in the dumps for a couple of days after NYE, and subconsciously figured that avalanches of eye-popping hues would snap me out of it? Could be. Whatever the case, five days into 2024, by which time I was clear about what to do, I entered Willow Grove Park, a three-level indoor mall located a hop, skip and a jump from my house in the burbs. I knew that heavy doses of just-what-the-doctor-ordered awaited me at the mall’s enormous arcade, whose space formerly had been occupied by a JCPenney department store.
I’d been to the arcade before, always as an admirer, not a game player. Man, it’s something else. Game console after game console after game console fill the arcade’s two floors. I don’t have a clue how to play any of them. But who cares? The games are a color extravaganza. On that January day I allowed their oversized personalities to conquer me.
What’s more, they were loud as hell, something I should have remembered from previous visits. Even louder than fireworks, being in a somewhat confined space as they are. Man, my poor f*cking ears, longtime victims of tinnitus, were greeted by a nonstop outpouring of screeches, whams and bams. Did the racket cause me to flee? Hell, no! I wanted an immersive experience.
Eventually, after becoming fully immersed, I departed. I quickly forgot about the arcade’s din, but not about its dazzling colors. They’d impressed the heck out of me. And invigorated me. I’m thinking about their vitality right now as I type these words.
Funny, though: It’s one thing to be impressed and invigorated, and quite another to be truly in love. Yes, for all my adult life I’ve been a seeker of colors that pack a mighty punch. But I sure don’t want to be in their presence anywhere close to all the time. That would be way too much sensory input. I’d become overwhelmed and exhausted.
However, there is a color I never tire of being around. It’s the one I saw when I stepped onto my house’s deck a half hour after returning home from the mall. Looking up at the sky’s gradations of gentle blue, I thought something like this to myself: “Yo, blue sky, I’m yours! Come on down and wrap yourself around my sagging, wrinkled bod!”
Well, the sky sure as shit ignored my invitation. Maybe it’s hard of hearing, or maybe it just can’t stand the sight of me. I’m not one to hold a grudge, though. Thus, I’ll conclude this story with a recording of Blue Skies, a lovely song composed by Irving Berlin. And who better to sing it than Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra. I think you’ll like it.
Yeah, Another Blogger 
Entertaining post and photos! I recall reading that you have a thing with color. Those arcade game design are works of art and surely pack a powerful punch. I’m glad you got your fix! Truly there is nothing for SADD like a blue sky and some daylight! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello there. A blue sky definitely can get us to whistle a happy tune. Blue skies are good-mood enhancers.
LikeLike
A nice colorful blast into 2024! I must have missed timhis particular one.🤔
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi. Thanks for stopping by. Who is this, by the way? — your reply was posted as being from Anonymous.
LikeLike
Such a colorful post. Ended on a blue note that is happy is a lovely touch. Ah, yes, the bright colors of the arcades from the 70s & 80s. I never had enough money to play all day, but it was fun to watch my friends win. Were you a huge fan of the 72 Crayola box too? I’d search out sky blue. I guess I’ve always adored the color sky blue too, so much so that it’s the color of the front door on our house.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi there. I haven’t thought about Crayola in a long time. You’re right — those crayons are as colorful as they can be. Take care. Have a good day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very colorful post that had me smiling from beginning to end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks a lot. Appreciated.
LikeLike
Always entertaining and enjoyable to read, in addition to making me laugh, at your way to look at things, and life with your fertile imagination, and humor.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks. I appreciate it. Be well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The designs of those arcade games are truly masterpieces and undoubtedly make a striking impression.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Surprised you didn’t try to play a game or two! They’re so electronic now with video, so different from my (and I suspect your) pinball days. Loved the song.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah, I should try to learn how to play electronic video games. My favorite arcade game, years ago, was skee ball.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I knew that one. We played it “down the shore.” I grew up in NJ.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It would have been fun to enhance your visit to the arcade with a hand-held kaleidoscope. I often find that fireworks or brightly colored visual arts is enhanced by music and love the idea that some people have chromesthesia. Would love to experience that at least once in my life. The closest I suppose I’ll ever get to that is — one time when I was getting a foot massage, I was able to close my eyes and see colors that changed and swirled and it was amazing! Mother Nature is the best about providing a bounty of greens and blues, which is what I always find I need in my life to soothe my soul. Enjoyed this very much, Neil! Mona
LikeLiked by 1 person
Mona, what you wrote here is better than my post!
LikeLike
Thanks for sharing your color turn-ons. I especially related to your praise of SKY blue. I’ve always loved the amazing variety of color in nature. The russets and yellows of autumn leaves, the brilliant purples of lilacs in Spring, the blue, blue sky of a summer’s day and the glimmering bright stars at night. Most recently, I gloried in the contrast of white-capped dark blue waves breaking over beige sands under sunny light blue skies in Barbados. Color stirs our senses, rouses our spirits.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that’s why many of us won’t be sad to see winter turn into spring. Winter is kind of drab. The colors of spring liven people up. Thanks for your commentary, Amy. See ya!
LikeLike
Tried to “like” this, but WP is not playing along.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We live on a hill with a view and the three big days of the year are on our deck July 4th for fireworks, an August visit overhead by the Blue Angels, and New Years Eve for more fireworks.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your house is well-situated!
LikeLike
Reminds me of how I felt the first time we went to Vegas. I had never seen so much color. I love your rooftop view, I bet you have beautiful sunrises and sunsets too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Diane. Sunsets, yes, Sunrises? — well, I’ve seen only a few in my life (I don’t like getting up that early).
LikeLike
Great post! I too am a sucker for bright colors. Though I’m not much of an arcade guy, I love old neon signs and summertime vintage car shows, where lots of bright colors pop. There is supposed to be a neon sign museum in Cincinnati – it’s not far and I should go!
I love Sinatra, but prefer the added punch of the 1941 version with Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey band. That record is the musical version of colorful fireworks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi JP. A little bit of research showed me that those were the only two times Sinatra recorded that song. I’m surprised he didn’t record it again later in his career.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like how you end your posts with a song! What a nice touch.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, and thanks. I don’t know who this is, though. Your comments are posted as being from Anonymous.
LikeLike
We can see in all that you share, that you’re a colorful filter of excitement!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Many thanks, AOC.
LikeLike
I have not been to the Willow Grove Mall in ages, nor a mall arcade. That being said, my wife and I have been known to play an arcade game or two when at the movie theatre. That can be “immersive” when crowds are mulling about, even if the number of games is much less. Blue skies = Blue eyes…that tracks!😃
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Bruce. Did you ever go to the Willow Grove amusement park, which was located where the mall is now? I didn’t. It’s amusing to me that I moved from Philadelphia to Willow Grove in 2005, many years after the amusement park closed down.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Neil, I never did visit that park…but my wife grew up in NE Philadelphia so I am familiar with it through her. Willow Grove Mall actually opened up the year before we got married, and we did spend a lot of time – and money – there while living in Bucks County.
LikeLiked by 1 person