The jack o' lanterns hadn't even been picked up by the yard waste guy yet, but a house the next street over already had its Christmas lights up. And the light-up Santa, and snowmen, and eight tiny reindeer, and garland, and big red bows. Halloween is over - bring on the eggnog!
I love watching the Christmas decorations appear in the neighbourhood. While friends (and the husband) moan and groan about it being too early, I'm silently thinking, "I wish I lived there." In a region that's more likely to see rain come December 25th, than any of the white stuff, there's something about the soft glow of coloured lights, and overly large pagan icons resting on the lawn that just makes me feel all warm inside.
Remember Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? His over-the-top displays make viewers chuckle and shake their heads in disbelief, while all the while I'm sitting there thinking "What's wrong with that?"
Alas, my yard is not likely to be one of the ones shining brightly this season. I've discovered, over the years, that the problem with putting Christmas lights up is that you have to take them DOWN again, and we all know I have issues with getting things done in a timely fashion. In fact, there are Christmas lights on my house - we put them up five years ago, lit them for a season, and then abandoned them. They don't work anymore, obviously, but there they hang. Yes, I'm one of THOSE people. (although the jack o'lanterns went out for yard waste on November 1) Someday, the right combination of time, weather and motivation is all going to come together, and down they'll come. Someday hasn't happened yet.
Part of my personal journey over the last few years has been recognizing the need to reduce stress where I can. The outdoor Christmas lights are one of those things that can easily become a stress point, so I've let it go. Instead, I focus on decorating inside.
But I still like the feeling that looking at the neighbourhood lights inspires in me, that sense that Christmas - one of my favourite times of year - is right around the corner. So I'll let the other house on the street light the way for me, as the countdown to Christmas begins.
In other news...we celebrated the little one's 9th birthday on Sunday, and I am happy to report that I remembered the birthday candles this year. I am redeemed. Also, scroll down to the "Yesterday" post, if you're so inclined, and read the comment my kid left for me. Am I a lucky mom, or am I a lucky mom?
We don't decorate the outside of the house for Christmas either. We have a wreath that lives on a nail in our basement for 11 months of the year, and for that 12th month, we hang it by our front door.
Our neighbors decorate their house very nicely, and anything we would do would pale in the comparison.
We do, however, have lights strung around the edges of our deck and that's all year.
Posted by: cassie-b | November 19, 2005 at 12:02 PM