Christmas Lights

You know, there are just certain things we have to do at Christmas time in order for it to feel like Christmas. Watching Christmas movies, listening to Christmas music, our annual trips, secretly wrapping gifts, and baking cookies, all being the very traditions we have come to love during this time of year. Movies like Home Alone and Miracle on 34th Street, even Santa Claus, all reminding me of when I was younger. When bows were worn in my hair and Barbies ruled the imagination, a time filled with "Merry Christmas" and rushing to bed before Santa came.


A must on the checklist is Christmas lights, of course. Daddy finished ours not too long ago. They are beautiful. Just as he has done on every house before, he set to work this year on lighting placement. Untying knots and replacing a fuse, or two, or twenty, he battled to make it all shine. Oh boy, does it! Driving closer to our house, you can see the outline of the bright lights through the trees. It is actually more lit up now than in these pictures because I haven't taken any more pictures.

Then this wekend, we made it to our three favorite towns. Every year, since before my parents were married, they have gone to Natchitoches. Jefferson was another spot for my parents, with Marshall following not too far behind it. Anyway, starting with Natchitoches and ever since then, we have gone to all three spots at Christmas time. Saturday after work, I ran home to join my family for a trip to Marshall and Jefferson. In Jefferson, I found an old 1950s mixer. The top actually detaches and it just so happens that it once held a juicer. It was $40, coming with the original instruction booklet as well. We saw a couple just married rushing up to skating rink in Marshall for pictures. How neat to get married at Christmas time! This is my favorite shop in Marshall- "Charlie-Bella's". They have the most beautiful window displays and I am such a sucker for window displays. Their items are too pretty, but too expensive. Still, it is nice to go in and look. Across the street is another gorgeous store. While their window displays are not as grand, the store itself is amazing. Staircases line the middle of the bottom floor and go up two floors. The original wood decor just takes you back to the days when the store was new. You can imagine the women dressed up, walking about the store and all its many departments. This was the first year I remember going in. It seems that I have always gazed inside just imagining what it must have been like.




Sunday, we went to Natchitoches. While most of the stores were closed, their window displays still shone cheerfully. See the picture of the magnolia? "Steel Magnolias" was filmed in that town. The lights were lit brightly throughout the town. They have been lighting the town up for 82 years now. We drove through an old neighborhood, looking about the old homes we have always admired. My parents bought us a funnel cake, just as they always have. Although, in reality, both places on both days, were oddly quiet, it seemed even more peaceful than that. I believe it was the effect caused every year by memories. Our family traditions mean quite alot to us and are looked forward to all year long.

Christmas lights are just a small part of the Christmas season for us. They are beautiful in the dark night that so surrounds us in the mid afternoon now. Long sigh as I think! Merry Christmas everyone and just in case you are curious- the next post will be about my sister and her birthday coming up Monday!

-Paige