Glistening....

As I turned onto our street tonight, it struck me that something was wrong, well, no, not wrong, just different. The rain was pelting the pavement, ever so gently, but with determination and the street lights reflected off the wet street in a way that can only happen after a lot of rain. In fact, there were a few reflection on the street, but it didn't seem like there was enough light.

Today I had put away the Christmas lights, the ornament, taken the VERY dry tree to the recycle bin over on Demaree and Noble and just generally put Christmas 2007 into the history books. It is always good to do so, but comes with some sadness for me. Christmas is one of my favorite seasons, but it also is exhausting. So as I put the stuff away, swept the garage and prepared for the first full work week since mid-December, I was happy. Happy for the New Year, happy for what was past, but looking forward to what was to come.

But as I turned onto our street back from Border's, I realized what was missing. The white "icicle" lights that are the current rage, have now all been stuffed into boxes to await another Christmas year. The absence of blow up Santas, Snowmen, animated reindeer, even our Nativity scene, left a little hole in my idyllic vision of my street that I couldn't quite place. So, as I drove the two blocks around to my house, I said a silent goodbye to the lights that brightened my heart this past season.

It also gave me new appreciation for street lights of all kinds and porch lights, sending beacons of hope to anyone shivering in the cold, rainy darkness of winter. It made me wonder, who invented the porch light anyway? Whoever it was certainly deserves credit for bringing light into darkness. Something we should all try to do ... at least at night and in the "off season" between Christmas and every other time of year!

Time for a cup of hot chocolate.

Good night!