This is the time of year when folks start thinking about fireworks.

And in places like Montana you can still buy these dangerous little do-it-yourself explosives. Ed and I stopped at the fireworks booth on Rouse in Bozeman, and looked over the new supply and chatted with the Fireworks Lady. (That's how she identified herself. 'Just call me the Fireworks Lady,' she said. Appropriately, she was wearing red, white and blue sunglasses.)

Because it was the Fireworks Lady's birthday she gave us a gift--a small Tank, and explained how it works. It moves along on the ground, and shoots out flaming pellets. She said, "It's fun to get more than one and send them at each other from different directions!"

We could just see our young friends like Tyr and James enjoying the heck out of these explosive "toys." But it was a no sell.

My former (and late) husband, a doctor, hated the Fourth of July. The Fourth of July made him sick. He said he'd seen too many patients with serious accidents even from seemingly simple, small firecrackers. Patients would arrive in the hospital with their fingers, hands, faces blown off. Once, some relatives were setting off firecrackers from our porch, and he couldn't stomach it. For him, it wasn't playing; it was playing with fire.

So, no, I won't be buying and setting off fireworks this Fourth of July, either. And I hope wherever you are, you won't be doing it, either, or encouraging anyone else to participate. The unintended consequences can be too scary.

Have a Happy (and safe) Fourth of July.