Although I live in Manhattan, home of the Macy’s Fireworks display, my favorite Fourth of July was spent a few years ago in Boston.

The Boston Pops Orchestra played as we sat on one of the areas lining the Charles River closed off to the traffic so everyone could watch the fireworks. It was absolutely beautiful. And it was amazing to see live. When we got back to the hotel, it was airing on PBS if I remember correctly but it really wasn’t the same.

My kiddos were asleep tonight long before the 9:25 start of the Macy’s fireworks display so I turned on the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular special on CBS to see Steven Tyler and Joe Perry performing (since I didn’t plan to head over to the East River and watch the Macy’s fireworks display.) Pretty cool. Was probably so much better in person. Duh, of course.

I really have to wonder what the members of the Boston Pops orchestra think when they have to perform with a rock or R&B act. Maybe they are silently cursing whoever made them share their screentime as they performed their special “Liberty Fanfare” string salute to the U.S. Or maybe they were just secretly wishing Dr. Phil and his wife weren’t hosting.

That’s the reason I only lasted 10 minutes of the special.