Commentary by Jim Serger
There’s something wonderfully uniting about watching your neighbors decorate their homes for the holidays, because it’s not really for them, it’s for the community.
Those that walk or drive by often slow down and inch by to experience all the love and joy of the season. We decorate the front of our homes to bring joy to others.
The idea of piling into the car to drive through local neighborhoods is something I look forward to each year. This year feels extra special!
Displays range from the simple and elegant white icicle lights to the fantastical rotating light shows on the sides of houses, and to giant dangling ornaments hanging in trees to a motorized silly T-rex holding a present. They are truly lovely and allow us to see the heart of our community.
We always feel the warmth in the spirit of Christmas, but this year, more than years past, the holiday spirit began early. The scent of pine is lingering in homes, and eggnog is being drunk like water.
Christmas lights seem to hit the heart every single time we look at them. We remember past Christmases and think back to our childhood and reminisce about the big family gatherings we had.
This year with social distancing and folks taking precautions, one thing that can’t be taken away is loading up the car and slowly taking a drive to see the lights. We get a thermos full of fresh coffee, a few cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows and we adjust our radio station to Bing Crosby and Nat King Cole. We cruise from neighborhood to neighborhood laughing, telling stories, giggling, singing and having a jolly good time.
You are never too old or too young to experience Christmas lights firsthand. The spirit of looking at Christmas lights warms our soul and wraps us up with Christmas cheer for all to feel.
