*The computer is being uncooperative. It wouldn't let me upload a picture. Probably thinks I should get Tony's permission! Let your imagination go wild---it won't be an exaggeration.
When I saw my neighbour, Tony, squatting on his roof with a faraway look in his eyes a few days after Thanksgiving, I knew what was about to happen.
Tony is the salt of the earth, a great neighbour. But he is Italian, with an Italian addiction to decorating, both his person and his living space. And while I would probably go into cardiac arrest if I ever saw the OC bedecking himself with jewels as Tony does, I do believe that the Tonys of the world add a little colour. You could say that he is in touch with his feminine side. If we're a couple of crows, Tony's a fine feathered macaw.
He decorates for every season. Bunnies at Easter. Leprecauns on St. Patrick’s Day. Red, White and Blue on the Fourth. At Halloween it’s witches and scarecrows. For Thanksgiving it’s turkeys. But at Christmas he pulls out all the stops. So when I saw him perched dreamily up there, I knew what was coming.
He toiled all day. By nightfall the results were dazzling.
His house glowed like an ad for the electric company. The eaves were trimmed with white icicle lights. Little red lights twinkled from the shrubbery. The posts by his door were wound around with giant ribbon. On each window hung a wreath of greenery, set off with a big red bow.
Quite a display you’re thinking? But wait. There’s more! On either side of his driveway stand Hans und Franz, two giant,inflatable nutcrackers. By the front door stands an ever-smiling,inflatable snowman, and from the other corner waves a gigantic, inflatable Santa. On the lawn inflatable blocks spell out “Merry Christmas.”
I sigh and shake my head.
It’s too early, I think.
It’s too much, I think.
I’m a grinch, I think.
Tony's inner child, is alive and well, I think,
While mine needs to be reinflated.
If I were five, I think, I’d be enchanted.
For the rest of the month, I think, I’ll pretend I’m five.
18 comments:
Of course you may take the idea of a non-material wish list and run with it!
I'm hoping the more I read on other folks blogs the more I'm hoping the holiday spirit will grab me...
Maybe you should aim for 6 or 7, I don't think 5 year olds can wipe themselves effectively... just a thought from the trenches for you. I am impressed by Tony's hard work, winding the lighted garland round the front stoop nearly did me in, of course I was working in a hail storm and not the Fl sunshine, so I have a good excuse.
A sweet entry, Molly. So hard to suppress the grinch these days.
Bless the hall-deckers of the world. Things might be more tasteful without them, but they wouldn't be half as fun.
I don't mind a bit of over-decoration at festive times of year! You should see me go to work on a birthday cake!
Every year I say I wont go over the top this year. The kids are grown. But I can feel the excitement stirring and it is all I can do to stop dragging out the decorations yet.
I DO hope he's using solar powered lights for some of the bling at least!
Thats a bit "Bah Humbug" of me, is'nt it? I don't mean it to be.
Be whatever age you want to be Molly! Were you able to type when you were 6?
Ah, good.
Dear molly. Ohh I don't think my imagination went wild enough. I would LOVE to see a photo!
Ooh, we have 2 of those Tony types! We cringe every year. I wouldnt mind, but we live very close, on a corner, & all the &*%$ing sighseers use our corner to park or turn. It sends the dogs insane!
wanna see the photo, and I will have a tantrum if you don't show.
Trust that Rise to say that. She is putting the thought of a Chrissy hanging right out of my head if she carries on like that.
Bah Humbug the lot of yer.
I wonder how you sleep with all those lights next door. I think I already loss my innocence by 5, i.e. Santa doesn't exist. But go for it, yo%u are as young as you feel. Happy 5 years old!
kching, kching...
That is the sound of his electricity bill growing ever upwards.
peppermintpatcher.wordpress.com/
I wish I were a decorator at heart but alas... I am not. A few strings are all I could muster up this season... I gotta remember to get on the ball in the fall when it is warmer... It's awful hard trying to put up lights with snow mits on! :-)
I love getting the tree up, then the decorations up, the part I don't like is getting home from our holiday (summer time here) and having to face them and take them all down again. Always makes me feel flat:-(
Ok, I admit it: I'm British. And I think your Tony is overdoing it a bit.
On the other hand, you have to admire his enthusiasm. Mention "tree" to Mr Life and he sighs deeply.
To being 5!!!!!
It's the season to be filled with magic and mystery, excitement and love.
Go play in the snow...
Kiss under mistletoe...
Put a wreath on the door.
Sounds like Tony took decorating lessons from me... hee hee...
And, to help you get into the spirit, I have started a Christmas meme, please come by and play.
Merry Christmas Molly.
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
I am not much for decorating. We have yet to put up a Christmas tree, and our decorations are rather humble. However, I enjoy being five and driving around the lighted and bejeweled neighborhoods. I hope that the Tonys of the world get joy out of their festive decorations.
You forgot the giant sleigh on his roof with all the reindeer, the animated Disney characters (all of them, I'm pretty sure) on the front lawn, and right next to Rudolf, the creche. The blaring Christmas music from several speakers, and oh, look! It's Barbie and Ken, bigger than life and dressed in peppermint stripes, sitting on Santa's lap in the side yard. (I'd keep an eye on that guy.)
I think my favorite part is the garish lights draped on all the shrubbery that resemble melted Play Doh with Santa's elves bouncing up and down in time to the music.
Maybe you could pretend you're a BLIND five-year old who doesn't hear too well either.
Post a Comment