I’ve always loved Christmas decorations ever since I can remember. Back in the day, trees had those big hot lights, the kind that the whole string stopped working when one burned out and icicles made of a lead-like substance that probably killed a whole bunch of brain cells every time we used them. That would have explained a lot about kids of that era. The whole town looked like the burg in A Christmas Story because, well, it was from that same decade.
It seemed to me that homes were decorated, as well as churches and businesses, so I was somewhat taken aback when one of my favorite television doctor shows, Dr. Kildare, had a Christmas episode, and the doctors, nurses and staff decorated the hospital and had a Christmas party! I don’t know why this surprised me so much, other than I was one dumb kid, but it made perfect sense after I thought about it for a while that hospitals would do this since they are, after all, filled with compassionate, caring people.
I was thinking about Christmas decorations in hospitals and the like the other day as I was walking into the Caton Merchant House in Manassas, where my dad lives. The staff there is a wonderful, compassionate and caring group of people, and this year they have overcome some of the excesses of decorations from Christmases Past and put up ornaments, garlands, trees, posters, banner and even some tasteful outdoor inflatables that really class up the place. Not that it isn’t classy all the time.
So, one could do worse than decorate for Christmas. Just keep it tasteful, because I’ll be by to check on it. Yes, Christmas Decoration policing is just another service I gladly offer. Just have some cookies and milk for me, and everything will work out fine.
Biscuit City 