For once, I could actually make it to the dumpsters and see INSIDE!
Usually, both dumpsters are overflowing with the usual Christmas trash (wrapping, discarded boxes from gifts, and the handful of trees--last year, someone actually threw out an ARTIFICIAL tree), but this year was definitely different.
Either they bought less, or wrapped it differently.
I expect to see trees next week or so.
As for decking the halls and cluttering up the yard, I saw more inflatables than anything else--this is not good when you have bored teens wandering the neighborhood in packs looking for mischief. Many of them found it, and consequently were victorious in the knife-wielding teen-vs.-inflatable wars, judging by the number of downed Frosty Snowmen, Santa Clauses, and whatever else was made inflatable for Christmas. Other than that, mostly elderly people blinged up the yards with wooden deer cutouts, pre-formed wire trees, and the occasional manger scene or two.
Again, as with Thanksgiving, no holiday dinners to be found going on in the neighborhood churches. No Christmas pageant in the nearby school, and the only Las Vegas-style light show was at the Botanical Garden this year (an annual tradition here).
The economy has a funny way of toning down Christmas to a dull roar, doesn't it? I guess this is what they mean by Silent Night.
Today is a different story, though, I'm sure, with malls and stores up to their necks in returns, or people JUST NOW heading out holiday shopping.
Here's commentary comparing 2005, 2006, and 2007. Looking back, I'd say we effectively pulled the plug on the Christmas machine!
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2 comments:
Mr Chiots and I celebrate Christmas but it a low-key way. We only end up spending a couple hundred bucks on presents for all (and the majority of that goes for a few quality already needed gifts for each other, like hiking boots & a microplane grater).
I'm so glad Christmas seemed more low-key this year. I get so sick of the craziness of it all.
I hate those inflatable lawn ornament things. When my recently late uncle started collecting them, I became obsessed with trying to find out how much petroleum goes into their manufacture, but so far, I haven't found the facts.
You know, I have an artificial tree that I'm ready to replace. I've been debating doing it through freecycle or bringing it to Goodwill. I have a bunch of other holiday decorations that are perfectly good but not for my new house. It's time someone else enjoyed them.
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