Season of Light

We found this silly 7.5 foot narrow tree at Target and I am happy to say the twanging and panging of my old Christmas Tree business days are quieted when I look at the finished tree.  Neither the dog nor I have a rash or the sneezing and wheezing we both do when we bring in a locally grown smells-like-fresh-air just cut Christmas Tree.

The sale on the artificial tree was good enough that we thought it would be worth a try and if we had to abandon it later we would find it a good home. This year there are additional strings of crystals serving as garland~ we purchased them for the arch we were married under this past February and it seems like a perfect new addition to the decor.

We tightened up a little on the decorating this year. I love to paint the rooms with light during these shortest days of the year. I am really all about the pagan parts of the Christmas rituals except that I can sing every hymn related to Christmas as if I am standing in church with my choir robe on and a battery operated candle firmly gripped in my hand. Anything can set the singing off and nothing will drive the melodies out of my head. Without fail I am accidentally (and probably in a quite unwelcome way) serenading my fellow holiday shoppers to the heralding Muzak in the store.

But the light of this season is a hair more dim.The double hit of storms in August and October did nothing to diminish the power bill. How can one be out of electricity for 9 days and not see it any reflected lowering of the utility bill? In the most unnoticeable and useless protest ever I refused to put up the outdoor lights. Yes, I am questioning my seasonal spirit. Grinch? No. Curmudgeon? Yes. Until "Hark to the Bells" puts a skip in my step and a pleasant ringing in my ears.