And lo, there were lights…

Rissa was at a sleepover, we had the house to ourselves for the evening, so when we left Shopper’s, arms laden with chips and popcorn, we were intent on getting home as quickly as possible.  (Insert eyebrows waggling in deliberate sexual innuendo here.)  It was cold and drizzly as we raced back towards our house.  But then, we hit George Street, and I looked south towards the Town Hall.  There were holiday lights and garlands and fir trees all twinkly and sparkly, it was a defibrillator to my holiday joy.

I’m like a freaking magpie. Christmas decorations instantly delight me – the twinklier the better.  Why is it that something as simple as coloured lights can make a gal so
happy?  I won’t beg for jewelery, but show me sparkly lights
and I almost lose my mind with giddiness.

“Can we go see?  Can we go see?” I jumped up and down – a 5 year old had possessed my body.

“If you like,” said David in his Father Knows Best voice.

I scampered down to the main street to get closer to the twinkle and the holiday swag.  There were families making their way east towards the park.

“Maybe they’re lighting up the park!!  Can we go?  Can we go??”

We stood together, David had his arm around me to keep me warm.  I didn’t bring along my Cold Avenger mask – I was breathing through my scarf.  We were stomping our feet – David didn’t even have gloves – we weren’t supposed to be out of the house for long – we’d just gone out for ‘before the sex’ snacks.  A half hour later, amidst a crowd of eager young families and bumped-into friends, David and I stood – counting down to illumination.   As hundreds of us yelled, “Three, Two, One!!!” the park was ablaze with colour and sparkle – our small provincial town was a freaking fairyland. 

We walked home, hand in hand, still grinning.  Holiday music was piped in on the main street.  People were laughing, kids were saying “Did you see?  Did you see?”  We basked in those small town moments.  A few steps from our door, the drizzle, which had mercifully abated while we were waiting in the park, began again.   Even that made us smile, so disgustingly contended were we.   All of this unexpected joy, because we’d wanted chips and popcorn.

The bandshell with attending minature village.

Small town park – or could it be  DISNEYLAND?!?

You’d have to be soulless not to like this shit!