Christmas L...ts in Oysterville
Yesterday was a Bad Light Day in Oysterville. In the morning we had picked up our nine-and-a-half-foot tree at the Planter Box, had cut the obligatory four inches off the bottom of its trunk, dragged it into the house, and put it upright in the stand – all without incident. In fact, it had gone so smoothly that we were lulled into complacency.
And then came time for the lights. So many strings! Most of them mis-matched. None in A-1 working order, it seemed. Last year’s strings were clearly labeled. They had been perfect, but apparently had not survived a year of storage.
Some strands were that maddening kind – when one light was no good, none of them lit up. Or sometimes, it was just one color that didn’t work – but which bulb? Nyel, our Household Lighting Manager, spent three hours patiently testing bulbs. “Throw them out!” said I. “Go to Jack’s!”
By the time the cocktail hour arrived, there was one working strand on the tree. We needed at least three more… There were strands of lights all over the floor, neatly coiled and labeled, but all needing work. The Lighting Manager reluctantly agreed to follow my advice… tomorrow.
It was well after dark when I trudged upstairs to a window where I could see the Schoolhouse Tree. I had promised Bradley (who had headed back to Tacoma) that I would check. It was beautiful! The timer, the circuit breakers, the light bulbs – all working perfectly!
Not so, the Churchyard Tree. The top was lit; the bottom was lit; the middle was dark. It was really peculiar looking. This morning just after the alarm rang at five, I checked again. Schoolhouse Tree: dark, as it was supposed to be. Churchyard Tree: dark on the top; dark on the bottom; lit up in the middle! Even weirder!
It occurs to me that getting all the Christmas lights to work simultaneously here in Oysterville is much like getting all of us Oystervillians to agree on ANYthing. It seldom happens and not without a lot of effort.
I also recalled the oft-told story of my son at age three. His day care group had been learning a little bit about music and, during a review, the teacher asked, “What do you call it when two people sing the same song at the same time?” “A coincidence!” was Charlie’s instant response.
That’s what we need here in Oysterville with these pesky Christmas lights – a coincidence of the first order!
Oh, Sydney! This blog “brightened” my day and made me laugh! Thanks for making me smile during a tough time.
Hugs,
Cheryl