"Deck the Halls"

One of the best things about the Christmas season is the decorating that exists just about everywhere -- the stores, the churches, the neighborhoods, the civic buildings, sometimes even bridges and roads!  It makes everything so festive and lovely, not just in your own home and yard, but all around in many unexpected places. I think it's great and it's growing every year!

Part of the reason it's growing is the wonderful new figures, letters, lights, designs and decorations that come out each year.  It's really hard to resist some of the new things that are available. I don't know if it's a little bit of a competitive spirit or not wanting to be left out....I guess there are lots of different reasons why more and more people  "Deck the Halls" of their homes and apartments; whatever the cause, I'm all in favor of it!

I took a drive around my neighborhood this evening, just looking at each "holiday house" and listening to Christmas music.  I don't often have an opportunity to do the full tour, but this year tons of folks have their lights and ornaments already up and blazing.  (Is it my imagination or are the decorations going up earlier and earlier every year??) 

This neighborhood (OK, it's really a development, but I'd rather live in a neighborhood, so that's what I call it!), has an extremely wide range of housing types, from about 2,200 sq ft, one story homes for far less than $500,000 all the way up to the newer sections with $5M-$10M mansions that are downright unbelievable.  (We do NOT live in one of them!) 

It appears to make no difference what type of home either!  At this point I'd say approximately 2/3 of all the houses are decorated in some way.  Some are totally covered with lights....outlining the house, in every tree, in every window, in every shrub, with Santas, and reindeer, and gift boxes, sleighs and more!  They are almost overwhelming, there is so much to see!  I cringe thinking of their electric bill!  Others are very simple and tasteful with just a wreath or two and a bit of garland.

When we first moved here ten years ago, we were one of a few decorated houses in our immediate area.  We had always decorated outside, ever since we bought our first house in Chicago, eons ago!  Well, actually the Big Guy decorated outside.  I just provided the inspiration (or threat, depending on your point of view!)  There are about 20 houses visible from our driveway. As owners have come and gone over the years those who do lights and those who don't keep changing.  This year there are lights on 12 of those houses already! That's the most ever! 

The young man who lives next door to us moved in about 5 years ago.  He travels a lot for work, so we don't know him very well.   He was a typical bachelor kind of guy.  His dining room has a pool table and nothing else!  When there is an important sports event that is being televised he has a bunch of friends over to watch on his big screen TV.  He never even put a wreath on the door in years past, much less anything else Christmas-y!  But this year???  He was working in his yard this past Sunday, just before dark.  He put lights on the 3 trees in his front yard.   He has decked the halls!   Nothing much else is different as far as I can tell....dining room pool table still in place, still traveling and working hard.  But there are lights outside!  I just love it!

p.s.   Ummm, did I happen to mention that he got married last winter?    Yep, and this Christmas he's got lights!  It's all about the inspiration (and the threats!)  Absolutely cracks me up!!!