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I’m one of those people who want the window seat on a plane so I can get that bird’s eye view of the land, cities, and bodies of water we’re flying over. But I haven’t done that much flying at night, or when I did, I had an aisle seat.
So on my last flight to Alabama for a combination writers’ mini retreat and Heart of Dixie Christmas party, I made sure I booked window seats going and coming. And am I ever glad I did.
While in Alabama, I took a lovely walking tour with friend Lynn Raye Harris and her family through the historic district of Decatur. The interiors of the old homes ranged from exquisitely decorated to a bit of a cluster of decorations, but the majority of the exteriors were done extremely well using live pine boughs, holly and fruit.
But I’ve also grown up watching the lavish display put on by elite retailers. Anyone who’s been to The Plaza in Kansas City, MO during the holidays knows what I mean. Their annual lighting ceremony at Thanksgiving kicks off the Holiday shopping.
I had an ungodly five-thirty am flight and it was dark when we took off and cloudy most of the flight, so I feared I wouldn’t get to see anything. But the lights that were still on that time of morning glowed through the clouds, creating colored puffs of cotton.
Thanks to clear skies on the return flight, I got to see the neighborhoods and parks decorated as well in far better detail. It brought back memories of my folks driving through neighborhoods in town to see the pretty displays. While I missed sharing this moment from above with anyone, it was without a doubt the best way to view Christmas lights and displays.
So though I often grouse about the lines in stores and the commercialism of the holiday, flying above the glow of towns and cities is a bit enchanting.
Do you have any special displays you put up each year or places or events you visit? What’s the most beautiful display you’ve seen? How about the worst?
Filed in: Janette Kenny
Dec 19th
2011
4:00 am
Ashley March Said:
Sounds like a great trip! =) When I was young my family always put up Christmas lights outside–and even sprayed “snow” on the windows inside, too. I remember driving with my family through neighborhoods was an event as a child, and everyone was obliged to say “ooh” and “aah” together. =) Now for some reason, it doesn’t seem as if a lot of people around where we live put up Christmas decorations, which kind of makes me sad. When my kids grow older, we plan to take them around other neighborhoods so they can have that “ooh” and “aah” experience for themselves. =)
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Dec 19th
2011
5:19 am
wendy p Said:
My son is an avid decorator for Christmas, so he always puts up the lights around the yard and each year we try to get him something new at Christmas for the next year. Its true, like Ashley mentioned, each year there are less and less people putting up lights, and around here, there are ‘ordinances’ being made each year in different communities around us banning color lights or what you can put up. Thankfully, we are close enough to visit the Bright Nights display at Forest Park in Springfield MA where they have a Dr. Seuss themed Christmas lights that you drive through each year.
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Dec 19th
2011
6:56 am
Kristan Higgins Said:
We go for “Nordic Mystical” here in the woods of Connecticut; we light the odd pine tree in the field and woods maybe six in all. It looks so pretty as you come up our long driveway! But for me, the prettiest Christmas display is Rockefeller Center at night. It’s so cheerful and vibrant! The worst…a life-sized plastic manger where the three wise men sang “Frosty the Snowman.” I don’t have the words to voice my feelings on that one.
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Dec 19th
2011
7:04 am
Janette Kenny Said:
Your kiddos will always remember those neighborhood drives, Ashley. So will you with a smile I’d bet. And yes, fewer people are putting up decorations. Some simply shouldn’t, re: the overload the yard types.
Wendy those neighborhood ordinances are a blessing and bane, considering how stringent they are. I’ve never seen a Dr. Seuess themed display. Enjoy!
OMG, Kristan. I’m with you on the singing wise men. :/
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Dec 19th
2011
7:58 am
Emily McKay Said:
Jan, I love them all! I’m a nut for Christmas lights. When I was a kid, I desperately wanted lights on our house! I always swore that when I grew up and had a house of my own, damn it, it would be lit up at Christmas.
I do have my own house, but sadly, it’s never lit up at Christmas. I’m terrified of heights so I can’t do it myself and the Geek is a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to all things elfish. Despite that, he still doesn’t want to hire it done. Just now, I gently suggested that we might hire it done next year. You would have thought I’d said, “Next year I’m thinking about hiring one of those company’s that hangs lights to come in and make love to me because you’re not man enough.”
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Dec 19th
2011
8:27 am
Katherine Garbera Said:
We usually have one of those tacky yards that’s decorated to the hilt with a forest of white light trees, reindeer and lights all over the house, but this year just a wreath graces our door. I do enjoy seeing all the decorations and we usually take a ride around town to check out all the different neighborhoods.
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Dec 19th
2011
10:07 am
Kathleen Said:
We just went this past Saturday to our city’s annual Sparkle in the Park. The local Rotary Club puts on a lighted Christmas Displays and you can walk or drive throught the park to look at all these fantastic lighted displays. All my neiced and nephews come and have a pizza party first at my house and then we go on to the park and back to my house for dessert and gifts… It is alwasy a night I look forward to all year…
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Dec 19th
2011
1:20 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
Emily, I said the same thing. Several years ago I decorated all the windows (upper/lower) with lights, wrapped garland around the porch posts, hung massive wreaths and even had a couple of yard decorations. And I nearly froze to death taking it all down after Christmas. Now I go simple, but if I could, I’d have the house outlined in lights.
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Dec 19th
2011
1:22 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
Katherine, it’s always interesting to see how other folks decorate. Some simply take your breath away. Some, well… You just want to drive past them fast.
Sounds like a real fun night, Kathleen. Our town in big enough to do something like that, but they never do. I think it’s up to the clubs to host such. So it’s a drive to the city for us to see the awesome park displays.
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Dec 19th
2011
3:37 pm
Shana Said:
We don’t have any outside lights, but we decorate the inside. My mother-in-law lives in a neighborhood with a lighting contest and they go all out. Baby Galen got the tour and was a bit overwhelmed.
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Dec 19th
2011
5:32 pm
CateS Said:
Our downtown courthouse square is a ‘canopy of lights’ and is lovely… We do a little outside and inside.. Let’s not mention the 30 years of decorations in plastic boxes that I can’t bear to give up..
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Dec 19th
2011
7:39 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
Oh, Shana, I bet she was overwhelmed by all the glow.
Sometimes simple is still the best. 
CateS, I so know what you mean about boxes of “stuff.” I can’t part with the things my folks made, and they’re just too fragile to use anymore. Pound Puppy and delicate ornaments do not mix.
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Dec 19th
2011
9:01 pm
LilMissMolly Said:
My tree is nothing but bears and balls. I’ve been collecting them since I was very little and even made a few of them in grade school.
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Dec 19th
2011
10:29 pm
Janette Kenny Said:
That’s a lovely collection, LilMissMolly. I have quite a few Hallmark ornaments but nothing themed like yours.
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Dec 19th
2011
11:00 pm
Nancy Robards Thompson Said:
What a fun post, Jan! We usually keep the Christmas lights pretty simple – just icicle lights on the house. But we love to go out looking at displays…the more festive the better. There’s a neighborhood east of downtown where the residents must compete for most decorations and lights because each year they get more and more elaborate. It’s a lot of fun!
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