Light Show

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been driving around area neighborhoods, checking out their light displays. I have even expressed my gratitude for the tackiest of visual explosions, with small patches of frown lawn or even rooftops covered with not one, not two, but several of those gigantic blow-up creations -- Santa astride various modes of transportations (motorcycle, train, sled with necessary reindeer), giant snow globes, every Winnie the Pooh character imaginable, and -- my favorite -- a giant chimney, with Santa popping out of the top over and over again. Some folks go the simple route -- a spotlight aimed at the tastefully decorated front door -- while others don't know when to stop. The array is vast and mind-blowing.

And yet, so far on our excursions, nothing -- nothing -- has come even close to one particular house in a nearby neighborhood. We have made a pilgrimage every year, and each year something is added, making it even more obnoxiously and stunningly grandiose. [Well, OK -- there is one other house that outdoes everyone else, but we haven't been there yet. We call it "The Elvis House." Apparently, rumor has it that the electric company set a limit on the days they can light up. We'll get there soon.] This house, the runner-up -- and the effort to electrify it -- is truly spectacular. Every inch of the house is covered, from foundation to rooftop. Every tree, every bush, every fencepost is on fire with hundreds, if not thousands, of tiny lights. There are bows and ribbons, LED candy canes and sparkling reindeer with moving heads, colorful gifts and snowmen, all standing their posts on the front lawn. Is there really such a word as "tacky" during this season? I don't know. It truly is breathtaking.This year, the new element was a surprise, for as we drove up to the house and paused, a giant snowman sensed our presence and, to the delight of my kids, suddenly starting talking, singing, and dancing. Grace's eyes widened, not quite sure at first what to make of this strange creature before us; Aidan started giggling and singing along. It was one delightful evening. Don grabbed his cell phone and took a few shots. They're not great, and don't even touch the magnitude of the real thing, but it's better than nothing. More travels to come ...