Bringing Christmas Back (Part One)
As children, the Magic of Christmas was easy. We were gullible, everyone was kind, there were lights, there were toys, best of all there were the boxes the toys came in. When we grew up, we were less gullible and we became responsible for creating the magic for others. We were responsible for hanging the lights, and recycling the boxes. Some people are lucky enough that they never lose the magic, some hang on to it by their nails for as long as they possibly can. Sadly for some it is taken from them early. I feel that it is everyone's duty each holiday season to help bring a little magic in the lives of others. It can be as easy as making an extra effort to smile when the line backs up at the store. Imagine how great it would be if you were standing in a backed up line in the store and no one was impatient or complaining. A Christmas miracle.
For my special mission aimed at my missus. It would take more than a smile. It will take lights, and ornaments, bows, garland, colored beads, and all the holiday specials from our childhood.
I started with a sale. Icicle lights were eight dollars for 13ft, I bought enough to cover the front of the house. I read the box and it said you could connect up to three strings of lights together. 39 feet long runs would be perfect. I picked up light that projects an image on the side of the house. A little pricey, but the effect was worth the dollars. Timers, cords, bows, wreathes (the undecorated ones are way WAY cheaper), I got only what I needed and I tried to save a dollar everywhere I could. Cleverness goes a long way.
The secret to this operation is that Sara is out of town Monday, and Tuesday, and will return Wednesday evening. That means I have two nights to bust my hump and make the place truly sparkle with winter wonder.
Monday night I got off of work and focused on the outdoors, specifically hanging the icicle lights. There had been a strong wind all day that fortunately layed before I got on the ladder. Sadly the wind blew the cloud cover and the temperature dropped. I didn't read the box close enough. The 13 feet of lights that could be connected in strings of three was ACTUALLY two six and a half feet strings. That mean that runs were only nineteen and a half feet long. Crap. Its dark, its cold, and I have to re-engineer the lighting on the fly. I will have to go back to the store tomorrow to buy a drop cord and another timer. The cold hands and numb fingers slowed me down, but I got a lucky break. Sara called me. I went inside to talk to her and convince her that I'm just watching Christmas specials on TV. My fingers were so cold I could barely hold the phone, so I put it on speaker and told her I was playing a game while I was talking. So long as I occasionally clicked the mouse button it probably sounded convincing.
After I got off the phone with her my fingers felt better, but it was late and getting later. I slogged on until the job was done and stood back to examine my handy work. It was good, or at least it would be once I got the drop cord and timer. I went to bed late, cold, but excited by the job well done. Phase one almost complete. I'll just get up early in the morning, and on the way into work I'll have time to drop by wally world to pick up the last couple of things I need to finish the outdoors.
