Christmas Lights

Decorating the house with Christmas lights was my idea. It started with a string of lights on the patio of our first home together, the only area of the condominium that could easily be decorated. Next was our first house, which meant roof lines and window frames. Eventually the trees we planted would grow enough to support decorating, carrying lights farther up into the night. Dedicated circuit breakers were installed in the electrical panel, outlets were installed in various locations around the property and the number of lights continued to grow, covering rose bushes, shrubs, a travel trailer and my grandfather's truck.

Each house brought new designs, different patterns, more outlets to install. For the better part of 20 years I had lit up the darkness with Christmas lights. It became a tradition to Laura, our daughter. It was expected we would light the house and practically anything else that didn't move. She held the ladder while I reached to the top of the tree or the peak of the roof above the garage.

This time of year is associated with light; the lack of it as well as the way we respond to it with candles, sparklers and strings of bulbs. Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, uses a menorah to illuminate to night. Christians use an advent wreath; the lighted candles originally designed to signify the persistence of life in the midst of winter, the accumulation of light is now an expression of the growing anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ, who we Christians see as the light of the world. The all-night bonfire for the burning of the Yule log is a tradition with roots in Northern European pre-Christian times.

Last year was not the best of years. Losing my job, being forced to sell our house in a market not kind to sellers, moving to another state and starting over again was not in the plan. By the time December rolled around I had decided it was time to give up decorating the house and let the darkness win another round.

Laura had other ideas. She and her boyfriend Bryan searched a jam-packed garage, found the lights and decorated the house. This home came with a dedicated plug for outdoor lights, so they were able to complete the task without any assistance from me. The lights looked great, especially accompanied by the other houses on our street.

Lights in winter are reminders of the inner light, hope for the return of sunnier and warmer days. Thank you, Laura and Bryan, for that reminder. I am a better person for it.

Ohh Christmas Lights
Light up the streets
Light up the fireworks in me
May all your troubles soon be gone
Those Christmas Lights keep shining on