I am happy to report that this year I beat the procrastination curve…er, meaning I didn’t procrastinate. That’s right, I put up my Christmas lights the weekend prior to Thanksgiving this year. Take note, we don’t turn them on until tonight when our entire street does this “lighting parade” thing where we all turn them on as we walk down the street to the chorus of oohs and ahhs. Why is this important you ask? If you are asking, you are likely from California or some other warm state; those from states that snow knows what I am talking about. I beat the snow!
Yep, the putting up of the lights. I’m not a scrooge mind you. I enjoy having them there during the season, just dread the time it takes to do the actual putting up. It is one of those things that takes several hours for not all that much to show for it in the end. And, if you really want to go gangbusters with the display, you better set aside an entire weekend and a few extra weeknights threw in there for good measure.
I have several angles to my roofline, and the tallest peak is 28 feet up there, so mine is no small task. Now, imagine climbing up that high with snow and ice on the shingles – not gonna happen. I have done it in the past, like an idiot, and come very close numerous times to take a fast way down. Who knows how many times my ladder was on the brink of sliding out on its own way to leave me dangling on high. It is a real problem, in fact, there are articles every year about the injuries and deaths that occur with zealous people (typically men) try to hang the lights in the worst of conditions.
I am a procrastinator, I admit it and I try to stop doing it continually. This year I succeeded on at least this one thing. So, as it snows outside today for the first big storm of the year I sit at my computer and happily report that my lights are up and I welcome the weather. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
