The Last Christmas Light Shining

A few weeks after Christmas, most of the lights decorating the yards and houses were taken down and stored away. Here and there I noticed some shining brightly. The Gather experience made me wonder about the stories behind the still shining lights.

Was it a someone stationed in Iraq or overseas somewhere. Were grandparents coming to visit late? Was someone getting out of the hospital or maybe jail? Was it a dying person's wish that kept the lights on?

Toward the end of January, there were three left: one a house with white icycle lights in my neighborhood; one a tree completely covered in colored lights; and one with multi-covered lights in the yard and on the house. This last Friday night, all the lights are gone except the one in my neighborhood. I'm not looking forward to driving by tonight. Will the lights still be shining?

I've enjoyed the lights left up for a whole month. It's been delightful to make up stories behind each set of lights. I just hope each house had a happy ending to the real stories.

It makes me sad to see them go.