Wednesday and Thursday night I took the bus home from work. Both nights it was well after 5:00PM and darkness had fallen.
It was as if I were in a different town. The streets were unrecognizable to me. I was surprised by every stop and every turn on the roads.
But I was equally delighted by all the Christmas lights. Street after street, house after house, all bedecked for the season.
I understood, as never before, the power of the lights, white or bright, that pierced the darkness and lifted my heart. I should blog about this, I thought.
Then came Friday and the heartbreak in Newtown, Connecticut.
Like all of you I was drowned in grief. And my heart was heavy with sadness. The holiday season seemed almost unnecessary and reasons for gratitude far far away.
Then I remembered my bus rides. Today GG and I decorated the outside of our house.
We wrapped garland with lights and hung it around the door. We covered a tree shaped topiary form with roping and strung it with more lights.
For the coup de coeur, we covered our table with 150 lights woven in a net and anchored the 'table cloth" with a large terra cotta vase of greenery.
Neighbors stopped by to pet the dog, laugh at the kittens and bask in the light.
If we can bring some joy into the heart of a neighbor walking by or a bus driving down Columbia Pike the electric bill will be worth it.
Comfort and Joy. Bring it on.
We need a little Christmas now.
xo Jane
Lights are my favorite past of Christmas decor. It's amazing what a difference it makes to walk down a dark street vs one where there are Christmas lights. It's so heartwarming. Even if I do almost nothing else, I always put lights outside. Your neighbors will be happy.
ReplyDeleteWe just came back from a dog walk and we were delighted.
DeleteShine on Jen.
xo jane
Great blog Jane. A reminder that even a little bit of light can lift a spirit. Such gloom has been weighing me down despite putting on a happy face. Maybe when we get our lights up, our spirits will brighten.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true. much to be learned from the pagans:-)
DeleteJane, thank you for what you have written. After President Obama's address in Newtown, CT, my husband turned to me and told me I had cried 9 times this weekend. The joy of the season mixed with the sadness that surrounds us have turned me into an emotional wreck. The Christmas lights do help cheer me up and temporarily lift my spirit. Merry Christmas, Jane. Christa
ReplyDeleteExactly Christa, you said it much better that I could have. Hope you find some solace.
DeleteSuch a beautiful way to share a little light during a time when it is so needed. Looking for our lights now...
ReplyDeleteAmen, Jane.
ReplyDeletetouching.
ReplyDeleteWell done for your spirited lighting, dear Jane.
ReplyDeleteLights, like holiday greens, give us hope. We could all use a little hope.
ReplyDeleteCould there be a sweeter photo of two kittens anywhere?
A lovely post and lovely lights that will bring joy to passersby. It's been a tough few days and Christmas will not be exactly right this year. Hope you are well otherwise. xo
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas lights, unfortunately not very big our side, there are a few roads in 2 suburbs where the lights have become a tradition and what a thrill it gave the kids to see them- enjoy the lights x
ReplyDeleteJane, Your lights are beautiful. On Friday when I returned home after a full day of school I could not turn on the Christmas lights. Saturday morning the song you alluded to popped in my head and I found myself singing, "we need a little Christmas right the very minute". Saturday I plugged in the lights inside and out for all those lost. Thank you for your lovely post. Bonnie
ReplyDeleteJane,
ReplyDeleteSo beautifully written...it brings tears to my eyes. I think your little lights are quite beautiful and will bring a little joy to all those that see them. It reminds me of that movie, "You've got Mail" when she says, "In the meantime I am going to add more twinkle lights....a fine idea."
xo
annie
We put our tree up this weekend, didn't really feel like it but we did. Didn't get to the outside lights since it's been a gray damp misty weekend, the world mourns. December 14th was my father's birthday and now it will live in infamy and not in a good way. Something needs to change. I just noticed the kittens are shaping a heart---hope.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jane, for your lovely words. I am not a cryer, yet I cried many (too many to count, I think) times over the last couple of days. I cried when I talked to my daughters, when I talked to my Mom, when I talked with friends, while driving down the street. I'm exhausted and just when I started to think (with no small fury) that even this won't change things in this country...well, it seems there might be a glimmer of hope after all. Hope.
ReplyDeleteAnd the lights! It is what this season is about, I think. Hope.
It is hard to know how to be right now, isn't it, how to celebrate, what to say, how to write....
ReplyDeleteI have been feeling out of kilter with all the Christmassy preparations since hearing the tragic news but as the days go on, I think actually, sharing as much 'light' - physical and metaphorical is a good response, if we can love and celebrate what remains good, let's do so as two fingers to the darkness and evil that has reared its head so appallingly in CT but also in Syria and so many other places. And perhaps there are things, in ways individual to us and even if they seem tiny drops in the ocean, that we can do to help, make the light shine a bit brighter? You are so right the world needs light, we all need hope, let's express it, act on it, if we have it in us, no?
You are so right. Beautifully said.
ReplyDeleteKeri
Comfort and joy to you all. Happy Christmas - we need all the lights we can get in these dark times.
ReplyDelete