This Christmas decorations appear more garish in my neighborhood this year. A few years ago, a number of ranch houses around the block were bulldozed for the construction of McMansions, and these are now covered with strands of hideous lights. The lights glow with a neutral beige color; the platinum-tinted color of money and bad taste. On a walk the other night, I was cheered at one of these homes to see a solitary, well-lit tree in the window and no other decorations.
Of course, we have not yet even put up our decorations, and as usuual I am entertaining the notion of not even laying out the few strands of lights that I usually place upon our front hedge. Out of town last weekend for a wedding in New York, we have not even put up our Christmas tree.
Years ago, when I passed the condominium community on my nightly walks, I was happy to see in one modest home old-fashioned candles aglow in the windows. I remembered similar decorations from my childhood. They were cheap electric plastic candles that one could buy at what used to be called 5 and dime stores. They had a small, orange molded flame that came alive when one plugged in the cord. For some reason, this cheap, tawdry gesture at Christmas cheer at the condo filled me with happiness. Alas, they disappeared years ago, and now the beige color of the small candles' base grows grotesque writ large in huge strands of gilded lights.
The purpose of such excess mocks the generous Christmas spirit and calls attention to the homeowner, emblazoning to all who pass, "see how rich and wonderful am I?" Give me a single Christmas candle, shining from a window.
I love decorating with branches...This one was sitting on the forest floor calling my name. Sounds romantic, but that is how it happened.
Posted by: kids shorts | December 18, 2011 at 02:31 PM