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I guess it was Issac Newton who first said "What goes up must come down"!
Quite obviously -- he was talking about Christmas decorations!
Right?
In your own home, remember all the stuff we've put up all month long in December -- the Christmas tree, the fireplace mantle -- and lights all over the lawn?
Well, it's time to get rid of it!
No matter how dispiriting and depressing it might seem!
It's always so sad and creepy to see all those Christmas trees thrown out on the curb -- waiting for the garbage men to come by! Once so admired, full of lights and decorations, and now just tossed out there, like trash! Ha!
But get this: In this billionaire's house where I work, it takes the entire staff three full working days to take down all the decorations, indoors and out, in this 22,000 square/foot residence!
And what a mess! Getting everything put back into the right boxes, headed for the attic. Bringing in a truck (with a bucket lift) to get all the lights out of the trees, and the lighted wreathes on the third-floor windows. And from experience, it will take until Easter to get all the glitter vacuumed out of the carpets!
The Mister and Missus have gone away -- as they always do immediately after Christmas -- not wanting to be annoyed with any of this disruption. So at least we have some tranquility to disassemble all the trappings. (And not have to put up with all their nutty nonsense for a few days!)
I hope your Christmas take-down isn't too dreadful! (It's just that all the decorations are so full of past and newly-created memories, aren't they?)
Thanks for reading tonight!
Andrew
You really touched a nerve here Mr. Williams. It's always so, so sad to take it all down. And yes, its all so full of memories. I've been trying to create some this year my grandchildren will remember. Thank you for your writings, and especially for writing about this.
ReplyDeleteTo Ms. Miriam, in Rhode Island,
ReplyDeleteThank you for writing to me!
You sound like a lovely lady, and I have no doubt your grandchildren will always remember your efforts, and your love!
Andrew
Another physicist, the esteemed DMX, said, "Don't start nuttin', won't be nuttin'." Many people misinterpret this to mean "Mind your business," when it actually means, "Don't bother making your bed or putting up holiday decorations."
ReplyDeleteSorry you all don't have that option. But, at least you get some quiet time!
Cheers,
Mitch
I think it was Horace that said more or less the same thing -- "Work once begun must be continued." (Or was that Oscar Wilde?)
ReplyDeleteSo DMX is right, Mitch! It's easier not to start anything in the first place. (Which has the added benefit of elimnating the need for procrastination! ha!)
As for making the bed -- if you stay under the covers all day watching tv, then there's no need for that either.
Thanks for expanding the topic!
Andrew
We took down most of our decorations on Monday but due to my insistence and with the agreement of the children (I knew they wouldn't say no) we have left the tree in place until today. I'm 46 and should be happy to see the decorations go. However I can't stop loving our tree, the decorations hung there, and the way the fairy lights cast pine needle shadows on the wall.
ReplyDeleteNext Christmas can't come too soon.
Thanks for sharing that, Deane! I know exactly what you're talking about!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a little kid I was always traumatized by taking down the tree, and not doing much better as an adult. Ha!
At about age five or six I decided we should "plant" the tree outside in the garden -- which cannot be described as successful in any way!
Hello to your children, and Happy New Year!
Andrew
Aren't the words "dispiriting" and "depressing" the same thing?
ReplyDeletePaul
No, Paul!
ReplyDeleteA person can be dispirited without slipping into depression.
Get a dictionary and leave me alone!
Andrew
The most evil people in this world are the rich.
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous,
DeleteI know know many people feel this way. And there are certainly some bad apples.
But don't forget about all the good rich people who spend untold millions on philanthrophy and charities.
The most recent fund-raising event at the house where I work raised almost $400,000 for an abused children's shelter, from only 250 women who attened the event.
That's far from evil, wouldn't you say?
Andrew