Well, I have to say that when they do it in Texas, they really do it right. And, I have learned, that includes kicking off the Christmas season as soon as you tear off the October page on your calendar.
It all began about the beginning of October, when, to my great astonishment, I received on the front door- the first of many flyers advertising Christmas light installation. What????? In North Carolina, this is something that most people do themselves. Granted, this explained alot, as when Martin and I would come to Texas every year for the Christmas party (which is always the first weekend in December) we would be amazed by the elaborate Christmas lights display on nearly every house we flew over. Please don't miss the point. They are visible FROM THE AIR. Now, we were silently wondering how these people managed to safely outline their ENTIRE roof with Christmas lights- and now we know. THEY HIRE PEOPLE. Now, usually, Martin and I are happy to just get lights halfway up in a tree, much less, line the roof. In fact, last year, we splurged on the big purchase of three Christmas light "nets" for the bushes, so all we had to do was throw it over the bush, and stretch it to make it fit. Well, obviously, those lights won't be doing it this year- for two reasons. A) our bushes are the size of a five gallon bucket; and B) I somehow get the feeling that Christmas light "nets" won't cut it around here. Now, one may wonder how much this Christmas light installation may cost. Maybe it's worth it... I'd really rather not have Martin falling off a ladder, thank you very much.... but talking about it with a friend of ours, Martin discovered that this service can run about $400 and up. Okay- up the ladder, you go, Martin.
Imagine my surprise, when I turned out of our alley one twilight evening on November 6, and my neighbor already had their lights up, and ON. Now, don't get me wrong. I love it. I think it's great. But I am shocked. Because, there's another house or two with lights up every day. And even as I sit here, I just watched an "installation company" finish up on the house down the street. Because the kicker is, in order to have your lights up, "in time", you have to schedule these people early.
This early Christmas mentality actually stresses me out a little, because, frankly, I'm already missing the NC fall, and I just really don't want to skip over Thanksgiving. But, at the same time.... I find myself absolutely, positively itching to go pull my decorations out from under the stairs. I am restraining myself because it just won't seem right to have them already up when my brother and sister-in-law come for Thanksgiving.
I should also mention that the Christmas foray further began on November 7, when Santa arrived in a huge parade at The Shops at Willowbend. And let me tell you, we were there. It was a Polar Express theme, free popcorn and hot chocolate from Starbucks, and the kids got the photo with Santa- the whole nine yards.
I must say....I do plan to embrace this Texan tradition of throwing myself FULL-HEARTEDLY into Christmas, but it will just have to wait until November 28th for me.
