Parkside Drive

After hours of Christmas shopping, freeway driving and a long, pleasant lunch with family it was finally time to head for home. For those of us who choose to live in a rural area of the San Bernardino Mountains, the last 25 minutes of going home involves a 5,000 foot climb over twisting, mountain roads. Tonight I was tired, alone and not looking forward to the trek.

Therefore, rather than heading straight up the hill, I purposely turned up a little side street known for it’s elaborate Christmas decorations. As I slowly drove by, audibly “oohing” and “aahing” (I was alone, but no matter) at each light display, my mood began to lift and my hand turned up the volume knob on the Christmas carols without conscious thought. Before long I was singing “Noel, Noel” at the top of my lungs along with the radio. And then I wondered that why just driving by some lights had such a profound effect on my mood that evening?

Maybe it was that the entire street participated in the light display. Maybe it was
that each house seemed to reflect the personalities of its owner. On one two story brick home multicolored lights wrapped high around the huge oak in the front yard (an obvious extrovert). One modern home displayed only elegant tiny white lights. That one belongs to a professional couple who throws fabulous dinner parties. And then there was one home with a front door flanked by tall drummer boys with their hands permanently poised above their instruments. No guesses as to the owner of that one.

Occasionally beliefs were evident on some yards from the columned colonial with the manger scene and a scripture verse printed on a 6 foot high scroll to the menorah on the rooftop of a 1950’s California stucco. A leftover election sign in one yard even revealed the political leanings of one poor loser.

My favorites were the ones whose owners knew no decorum or had a sense of when to quit. Lights draped over every shrub, candy canes lining the walkways, Santa, Rudolph, blow up snowmen and trees tangled up with lights going in every direction it was all there. These people are the best, the ones that know how to have fun and who don’t let anything get in the way of their holiday designs. You make me smile.

So to all of the residents of Parkside Drive in San Bernardino, California - thanks. Your hard work in putting up all of your decorations, the drain on your utility bill and the extra traffic is all worth it. You turned one tired shopper’s drive into a holiday lark and put me back into the true spirit of Christmas. The lights that symbolize the arrival of the Light of the World bring joy to all who see them and made the long road home seem shorter.

The drummer boys, however, not so much.