Snow fell Thursday night. Well it was more like a skiff (not sure what that is in metric measure), but at least a little bit of white stuff covered a few things to give at least a feel of winter, sort of.
You see I’m blaming the weather, or lack of it, for my lack of Christmas spirit this year, or at least so far.
Now don’t get me wrong, I do like Christmas. Some parts of it I love. But it seems snow plays a role in hyping the coming of the holiday, at least in these parts.
I remember one year, back when we had money so it was before kids, we travelled to Maui on New Year’s Day, and I was struck by all the Christmas decorations out in the stores and stuff.
Somehow a lei on Santa seemed wrong, but it’s all what you are used to. And, of course, after a little while, trading surf and sand and sun for snow, shovelling and grey seems quite OK. Heavy sigh.
Nevertheless, even though my ho-ho spirit seemed a bit lacking this year it should be stated that I got the Christmas lights up this week.
Of course I think I’m the last one on the block to do so and I somehow missed two sunny, mild weekends in a row which would’ve been the perfect opportunity to get them up under wonderful conditions, but, hey, I couldn’t get in the mood somehow. At least that was my excuse to my wife, as I frittered away two weekends in a row, which may or may not have included watching more than my fair share of football on TV. Not to mention the neighbours, who always have a better display than yours truly by the way, managed to get their’s up in the fine weather.
So there was some pressure on the home front to get the lights up, snow or no snow.
But it should be stated that I broke down and bought a couple new strings of lights this year.
Apparently the old set of lights, with approximately 22.7 per cent of sockets that don’t work, isn’t good enough anymore.
And they were kind of old school. You know, you can tell the new ones (under five years old) from the traditional ones, but I was trying to keep the tradition alive, so to speak. Plus I’m cheap, and lazy, and actually going to a store and buying lights, plus actually putting them up was a lot to accomplish for yours truly.
But, that’s why you do things in small steps. Last weekend I actually went to a store and bought two strings of lights, at 25 per cent off I might add.
Of course I couldn’t make up my mind between strings of all one colour or multi-coloured strings.
So what did an indecisive guy like me do? Why, bought one of each, of course.
Which makes no sense and drew lots of derision on the homefront.
Hey, I was under pressure.
However, the same boys who mocked me actually helped me out on Tuesday night, in the dark and cold, of course, and with their help it actually looks OK.
Sure, the neighbour’s is still much better but ours is no longer old school, complete with missing lights, and the salute to the gutter on the front of the house at least gives us a holiday presence in the neighbourhood.
Hey, better late than never.
And the snow is starting to fall, flurries are slated again for today.
Heck, a bit more and it’s starting to look a little bit more like Christmas.
Come on, everyone.
Sleigh bells ring, are you listening,
In the lane…………
Glenn Mitchell is the managing editor for The Morning Star
