A candle in the window. Not just for Christmas anymore.
While grumbling about how the stores forced the holidays, I’ve been putting up my Christmas candles earlier and earlier. Long ago, I put them up after Thanksgiving. Later in life, the night before Thanksgiving, and finally, now, the weekend before Thanksgiving.
A few of my neighbors have their glitter on already, and I know it is early, but I’ve never needed it more. A neighbor across the pond has a new display with ropes of twinkly blue lights on his fence, and they are reflected in the pond. Twice the twinkle, twice the proclamation.
I give thanks for the little lights that crash the darkness. I do not give thanks for Burl Ives or Bing Crosby or the Chipmunks that assail me in the stores. I wish laryngitis on them all. But the lights are different. Leaving aside the displays with heaving blimps of reindeer, the lights are — to me — a sign of stubborn hope.
The little light that shines is hackneyed and trite. But it’s true. There are little things in life that are really big. Your responses, dear reader, are among those things. You have taught me and encouraged me. I am about to hoist a turkey into the oven, and tomorrow, mindful of the world in which we write, I will raise a drumstick to you all. Thank you!
Oddments 
November 22, 2023 at 10:53 am
A big hearty ‘yes’ to each and every word. The selling of Christmas starting in September just turns me off, add in the music, and I’m ready to start wearing ear buds like my grandkids. Light in this sea of darkness that starts rolling in around 3:30 is a necessity. I brought three strands of tiny white lights out that work on batteries when the time changed, and I amped up my outdoor solar lights. Matter of fact, I received another order of solar lights for a railing and a fence post yesterday. One can never have too many solar lights. When we enjoy our turkey, I will raise a drumstick as well because our blogging friends are a gift that keeps on giving all year long. Happy Thanksgiving, Maureen.
November 22, 2023 at 11:01 am
Those solar lights will be a gift to everyone who sees them! They are a delight at Christmas, but they have meaning for so much more. And, yes, ear plugs are the only way to cope with that hideous noise some people call music. One of these days I’m going to take a slingshot with me into a store and shoot out all the speakers. I can easily plead insanity. Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Judy! We’ll shine our little lights!
November 22, 2023 at 12:10 pm
Thank you for this beautifully-written message. As I have been contemplating a non-celebration of anti-Christmas this year, I may be moved by your post to overcome the darkness of commercialized Christmas gaiety with lights.
November 22, 2023 at 1:05 pm
How we overcome the commerce of it is the challenge. I think many of us struggle with that. Thanks for your thoughts, Georgia.
November 22, 2023 at 12:25 pm
I used to string lights around the house, but taking them down in January was getting to dangerous. Friday, while the world shops for bargains, I will wrap a small pine tree with white lights. It may not add much to the overall scheme, but I hope it sends a small message. I’ll toast the friends I’ve made in this community when I raise my glass tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving, Maureen (and Judy)!
November 22, 2023 at 1:07 pm
And a happy Thanksgiving to you too, Dan, and to all the two-legged and four-legged loved ones that are with you. I think the white lights around your little pine will send the exact right message, and it well may add more than you think. Taking down lights in January? Unless you’re in CA, no way!
November 22, 2023 at 4:27 pm
The one year we didn’t take them down, somebody ate through the wires 😦
November 22, 2023 at 5:12 pm
Most unseemly.
November 22, 2023 at 1:54 pm
Maureen, you took my thoughts on commercial Christmas right out of my head. Thank you, I feel better now! Several neighbors here have been decorated for Christmas since they put away their Halloween decorations! Put me on your wish list for laryngitis on Burl Ives, Bing Crosby and the Chipmunks!
We definitely need some light in our lives, especially with the dark things that are happening all over our world. We have our little family of three deer and a wreath, all of which are decorated with tiny white lights. I agree with you, looking at these different lights, some white, some traditional red and green, sparks hope in me for the future.
Wishing you and yours a peaceful, fun-filled Thanksgiving celebration. I will think of you as I eat my turkey breast. I am most thankful for your friendship and for the wonderful blogs you share with us. You are a light in my life Maureen. Ginger
Sent from my iPad
>
November 22, 2023 at 2:17 pm
Thank you, Ginger, and you too light up my life and my blog and the blogs of others. As I’ve said before, your comments are a blog unto themselves! Many of us are weary of the crassness in the holidays, I think. So many traditions are celebrated that this whole season should teach peace, but it doesn’t seem to. This year the early Christmas lights are a joy to me, and I think your tiny white lights would be beautiful and a welcome sight to everyone. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones, Ginger!
November 22, 2023 at 3:43 pm
I love your lights in the darkness – they’re always appropriate! And I certainly agree with you about the cacaphony in the stores that is supposed to be Christmas music. Do you think the blue lights across the lake might be Hanukkah lights instead of Christmas lights? – it’s possibility, but then maybe those people just like blue. Happy Thanksgiving!
November 22, 2023 at 4:49 pm
Indeed, it’s entirely possible that the blue is part of a Hanukkah celebration; there’s quite a bit of blue light in recent years. I think I will re-visit my post. Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Judy!
November 22, 2023 at 3:59 pm
The idea of raising a drumstick makes me smile, Maureen. I am vegetarian so I will say, ‘Salud!’ with a forkful of potato gratin. Oh, heck! Two forkfuls!
Happy Thanksgiving to you.
November 22, 2023 at 5:09 pm
Thanks for the laugh! Yes, it should be two forkfuls — at least! Maybe a Milky Way? A Salud and Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Lois!
November 23, 2023 at 5:32 pm
Beautiful thoughts to celebrate the season. I have always liked blue lights and so it will be nice to think of you having a double string to enjoy. You certainly encourage and inspire me. Having that support is the nicest, most fun and most unexpected thing about blogging. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours from Felder and me. I would like to say, from across the other pond, just to add another reflection, but we are stateside for the next week or so.
November 23, 2023 at 7:01 pm
The reflection is added anyway. A pond is a pond is a pond. Glad you’re over here for Thanksgiving, and I hope you and Felder have a lovely day of it. Also glad you like the post. Thank you!