Peter Grossetti wrote:Jim - Are renters allowed to enter the contest
Merry Christmas, old pal.
And to all my friends back in The Wood ... peace; and goodwill to all!
Peter
Yes, they can.
MJK
You probably have not been bored with this story before, so I will repeat it. One December night I was on a Field Trip around the city with members of the Observer. We were noticing holiday lights, and the various styles and techniques. Were they elaborate festive Christmas decorations? Minimalists holiday decorations, or?
As happen in life as we drove around we talked and enjoyed and even laughed at many places. Then the conversation turned to the minimalists, and as it is about the Observation. When a person merely changes the color of the porch light from white to red or green, legit? What posses a parson who might not be caught up in the holiday make any effort to celebrate it openly? Was it a spouse or a friend that demanded something? Which brought us to discussing, people using one string of lights? How does one even decorate with one strand, when many use 10 or more? Would it not be harder with less than with more, who deserves the praise and admiration?
Then we ran into this house...
Delightfully understated. A red blanket over the second floor window, and a green blanket on the first floor.
One each side of the house in both direction, no holiday decorations. Certainly this person deserves a nod over his neighbors. It is also original, and delightful from afar.
There was no contest, but this could have won, best use of non-traditional items, and no additional lights in a Christmas Display.
As we drove around and chuckled and laughed, and framed, "Lakewood is the Paris of Cleveland's Inner Ring Suburbs" years before Scene claimed "Cleveland as the Paris of the Midwest." Which is where this postcard comes from.
So as I sat at home, looking and editing the various photos for the Observer, I ran into this one I took of the nasty little fake Christmas tree in Dollar General's window.
And I had the very Charlie Brown Christmas moment, that Brian posted, I am sure Brian does not know this story either. But Charlie Brown's Christmas is deep into the psyche of all Christian Americans, or those that celebrate the holidays.
Simply put, because so many forget this time of year. It is not the tree, but the thought. It is not the beauty of a tree covered in ornaments, but the love of that fills the room.
