July 4th, 2010 was probably my favorite firework viewing ever.br/You know how some sensory experiences just stay with you? - for better of worst.br/Like I'll never forget what holding our first cadaver's brain felt like at medical art school.br/ br/Well - the 4th was one of the "for better" varieties; but still a challenge.br/Fireworks were being shot off Muni Pier. They were deployed from 3/4 from the left of the picture (right under the paint bucket on the Golden Gate Bridge).br/ br/It was a clear day up until 6pm when fog rolled in as per SF tradition (hardly ever a clear 4th). It stayed light late. But then cerulean was quickly succeeded by dark blue and blackness that seemed to drop directly out of the sky.br/ br/A group of us got ready to get in the water. I got antsy and ran in. (I was getting colder standing in the wind outside). The water was nice for a moving pace; and I found a couple of pockets of warmer water next to the dock so I could keep an eye out for the swimmers before their jumps. We all wore glow sticks; some had glow necklaces; some - bracelets. Cap amp; goggles.br/ br/About 15 police officers in uniform had been at the club's party all day long for safety. [The South End club is a great SF institution that harbors folks from all walks of life - including a number of lifetime policepeople]. Apparently the guys on duty were very well fed for the whole time. (Al and I got there only in the evening for the main spectacle). The friendly eyes of the law turned away in unison as we swimmers got in, a few folks glided in on surfboards and kayaks illuminated with regulation torches started off. We made our collective way into the silver/black middle of the cove.br/ br/Then the display went off. I like fireworks a great deal. These were beautiful (but not totally out of the ordinary as far as pyrotechnics go). br/ br/Being in the water on our backs, checking out the night sky; each swimmer in a mini-world of his/her own - yachts around us... reflections, fog, light; dark; silver; cold creeping in... that was not ordinary at all.br/ br/Quite extraordinary. A complete 360 immersion experience --gt; a perfect sphere; with the night and water and salt and temperature reminding each one of us "hey this is life. Hey this is the life."br/ br/Warming up in the sauna after the deep immersion firework part wasn't too bad either.