On this, our penultimate Poetry Friday
of the year, please join us! Find the week’s
poetry round up here: Jone Rush MacCulloch
Christmas lights have always been a tradition I love. Growing up, we had strands of multi-colored bulbs. It was a rite of passage to climb the ladder and hook strands to the teacup hooks that waited all year to be called into service. When I married, we established a new tradition. We would string soft white lights. Years later, our kids begged us to switch to icicle lights. Fine. But that would be it. No more! We did not succumb to reindeer on the rooftop or lighted snowmen in the front yard.
I live on a cul-de-sac that goes all out at the holidays. Think bunny ears on cacti at Easter. When we first moved to this neighborhood, I thought perhaps the decorations were an indication of the number of children who lived here. Turns out many of my neighbors are empty nesters, like me. They’re just more festive – lol.
And then inflatables began popping up. And landscaped “rivers” of blue lights. And holographic snowflakes tumbling across stucco.
We’ve been walking the dog, and our grandson, at night after dinner. He is mesmerized by a 15 foot snowman with a purple swirling belly. Lighted snowballs dangle from the mesquite branches in flashes of color. Windows are painted with bowed wreaths. I think I hear Jingle Bells floating out of the rocks.
Our grandson insists we stop. And this is just the first house!
And we linger. Ooh and ahh. And we smile.
(with apologies to those who love the Christmas hymn, O Holy Night)
O Crazy Rite
Patricia Franz is a kidlit writer and published poet. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Yes the holidays have us tingling, blue lighting and piping in endless holiday “hits” the day after Thanksgiving… I think it’s our crass way to “dine up” our dreary weary world.
Oh, Patricia, I love this! I was singing your poem in my head (I never want to torture those around me by singing out loud, lol) as I read. Delightful! Thanks for the laughter today. ❤️❤️
So funny! One of our neighbors goes all out. Their house is smaller than ours, and all I think is “where do they store all of these decorations????” 🙂
Love this, Patricia! We have candles in the windows…that’s it, candles in the windows. And that seemed fine until new neighbors started moving in and doing so much more. Our neighborhood is blend of old and new – just about right. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the Christmas smiles, Patricia!
Ha–your poem made me laugh. I can imagine your grandson’s delight at those mad inflatibles.
I’m going to save this for my granddaughters, Patricia. We have much less in our neighborhood, but in the one next to us, everything! This is the same street that goes all out for Halloween, too. I’ve heard they rent spaces together for storage, til next year! Some houses we call ‘inflatarama’! Love your take, and then, clearly the young ones love it! Merry Christmas!
Patricia: Same here. Every year more lights. One neighbor has a light and sound show on the half-hour. So the folks across from them added and 8ft inflatable snowman. Really… it’s too much!!! Hilarious song, by the way. I think I will sing it to my neighbors. Haha. Have a lovely, sedate, holy and quiet Christmas!
Love that description of the walk with your grandson. One of the joys of the season! And such a funny poem! (On my drive to tutor at my old school, I pass an inflatable Christmas dinosaur!! Crazy!)
Bwa-ha-ha! Sing it, Patricia! 🙂
You captured it all well, thanks! Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas!
Patricia, I am amazed by the all-out effort to light the house with fevor. I have always be fond of white lights but back in the day, colored lights seemed to be the style. Your little grandson must be amazed by what he saw during your walk. My family annually visits sites that are supped-up with lights upon lights. My daughter finds these homes and we all visit. Oh Crazy Rite is a fun poem. Thanks for the ride to light frenzy.
Patricia, so funny! I was reminded of some of the crazy new decorations I’ve seen this season. I love the hymn, but I appreciated being able to sing along with your version. Funny. I agree, “O night! No lights! O crazy rite!”