“COUNTING THE LIGHTS”

After ( or even before) Thanksgiving one’s thought process turns to Christmas. Whether it’s the commercial aspect or the Real Reason For The Season somehow the stress factor always has a way of creeping in. Over the past few years not having to wrestle with a string of Christmas lights I have put a new twist on the dreaded stress of Christmas. You do not need to go to Amazon or your local mall to find it, just “count the lights” on your Christmas tree.

There are a few guidelines you need to be made aware of. The first is some form of Christmas lights, Christmas tree or a simple string of lights. One comfy chair, beverage of your choice, some soothing music ( Michael Buble’ kind of stuff) and you have all the needed ingredients.

Each light I count is in reference to a family member, friend, or memory as old as the decades of ornaments on the tree or as recent as last year. As my mind shifts from one light to another I find myself over joyed with the memory and other times teary eyed, so you may want to bring a few Kleenex. Like numerous families this year’s landscape has been filled with hill’s and valley’s. As a youngster I was quick to comment to my mom,” why don’t we have all the material things like our neighbors”? As her brown laser eyes shot me down like a scolded puppy she would say,” there are people better off than we are, but there are lots of people that are much worse off than we are”.

” yes ma’am”.

There are always some lights that shine brighter than others not because of the illumination but the memory behind it. Rest assured you will know when that happens. During the holidays when I magically disappear my better half will comment,” are you counting the lights”? Yes.

Merry Christmas-Be safe.