December 20th 2009 Lights, lights and more lights…….
“The outdoor Christmas lights, green and red and gold and blue and twinkling, remind me that most people are that way all year round”– kind, generous, friendly and with an occasional moment of ecstasy. But Christmas is the only time they dare reveal themselves.”
– Harlan Miller
It’s a family tradition to ‘check out the lights’. Right after Thanksgiving it begins, the search for great holiday lights. With the sun setting at 4:30 pm there are a lot of opportunities to search out great light displays. My son is still young enough that he enjoys the thrill of the hunt, my daughter at 17 believe it or not hardly ever turns down the challenge and I have to say even my husband is a good sport. It’s pretty typical for me to shout out, “let’s take the scenic route home……there’s gotta be cool lights”
We search out the most outrageous light displays. Living in a rural area of Connecticut we get to see some really fun exhibits! There’s a
barn down the street that follows the roof lines with icicle lights, blue and white ……. no rhyme or reason to the layout of colors I think Dave just pulls them out of the storage box and hangs them up, three white strands, one blue, one white, two blue, one white……… Joey loves catching the tractor one town over, every once in a while theres a bonus, Santa’s sitting on the Tractor! Ashley’s favorites are the houses that go all out! The more outrageous the more she loves them. Her idea of a perfect light display usually includes lights framing every window, lit dancing hippos, inflatable characters, and of course a LED candy cane lights lining the walk way. Joe usually is drawn to anything he knows I would find tacky, threatening to do the same to our house next year……..he loves to try and get my goat. Then there’s me, I love the classic holiday decorations, simple spot light on the front door with a beautiful wreath. Sometimes a tree finished off with some white lights……my family finds those houses boring! I will admit I do enjoy thebright, over the top displays. I appreciate the work, planing and electric bills those homes put forth for our enjoyment.
Each year on Christmas Eve, before we head out to my Aunt Trudy’s for a traditional meatless Polish Christmas Eve celebration, we visit Hubbard Park in Meriden CT. The display doesn’t change much from one year to the next, although somehow we find something new each year. Funny I can’t imagine not going there before I dig into my fried fish or perogies.
I’ve been a touch under the weather the last few days, so I’m also behind in some of my last minute shopping! Still as I trek home tonight from shopping for the stocking stuffers, I’ll take the scenic route. Who knows maybe I’ll find a dancin’ inflatable Tigger……..or Santa in a grass skirt under a palm tree…. No matter what I find, its sure to bring a smile to my face. Take the time to drive home the scenic route this week and enjoy the sites!
