Mystery of the Missing Christmas Lighting Display
As Christmas approaches one family tradition is to drive the neighborhoods enjoying the Christmas lighting displays everyone puts up. The last few years there have been less and less. I understand, as our own lighting display has been downsized.
Last year many around our area protested a utilities rate hike in November set to reap the benefits of those who put up Christmas lighting displays. Yes, sadly we were one of those, since the year before our December utility bill had been a lot higher than in previous years. We couldn’t afford another huge increase, and the deliberate timing of the hike was deliberately grinchy, so we put up only the minimal lighting display. It was a sad year for enjoying Christmas lights displays.
This year, the rate hike will be put off until January as in previous years, except last year. Wise decision utilities department. The lightening displays have returned, and ours included.
The real point of this post is for many years, we watched a certain home in our area add to his homemade Christmas display and looked forward to seeing what had been added each year. It was not religious in nature, but fun.
There were Peanuts characters, then Tweety Bird and its companions, Little Mermaid, the Grinch, Disney Characters, Winnie the Pooh and pals, just to name a few, all homemade. Spotlights illumined the display. Suddenly about four years ago, not only were there no new characters, but the display disappeared entirely. Each Christmas we checked, still the house was dark, no sign of the previously wonderful Christmas light and character display.
Had they moved, after all this is a military town, people come and go a lot? Was there a family illness or emergency that caused the display to go missing? While we reveled in the other fantastic lighting displays, we were saddened as we drove past the dark house checking each year.
No we never knew the people who lived in that house. But we felt a connection to them watching the display grow year after year.
On December 10, 2017, we clambered into our truck, hot chocolate in hand, to go check out the neighborhood Christmas lights. With trepidation we turned the corner where the darkened house had been for several years. Lo and behold, in all its previous glory the Christmas lights and beloved characters were on the front lawn, house and roof.
We were ecstatic to see the house lit up once again, the Peanuts merry-go-round spinning slowly, all the other cartoon characters smiling broadly. No new characters, but that was all right because the decorations were back.
We took pictures, and decided to share the beloved display with you. Funny how one thing can brighten your spirits as that house did ours that night.
This year I believe we will go back to that house and knock on their door and tell them how much we have enjoyed their display throughout the years. Also how much we missed it when it was gone. Christmas lighting is a time consuming, expensive endeavor and a labor of love. To those of you who set up Christmas displays year after year, THANK YOU!
Please share your Christmas Traditions with us in the comments.
Charm Me Again
Sequel to Charm Me
Tena Stetler
Genre: Paranormal Romance/Mystery
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: December 9, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-5092-2973-4
ASIN: B07ZDKKC4N
Number of pages: 336
Word Count: 85,360
Cover Artist: Kristian Norris
Tagline: Breaking the curse is only the first step to forever.
Book Description:
Daylan, a warlock, is being haunted, but what the ghost wants is a mystery. His magical powers bring him no closer to an answer—until he encounters Josie, a Yoga instructor.
But when she is kidnapped by an ancient Fae Warrior set on revenge Daylan must rescue her before the rogue claims her as his own. During his quest, his world spirals out of control, and a devastating curse comes to light. Could the ghost hold the answers he needs?
Can he break the age-old curse to save Josie and their future, or will Daylan lose her forever?
Excerpt
Suddenly, the
wind changed direction, a thin maroon line formed along the flat bottom of the
dark clouds spreading across the sky where moments before there’d been only a
few fluffy cotton ball clouds in a sea of blue. The maroon line widened then
switched to vertical and spread open to reveal a shimmering interior.
Shadows emerged
from the cloud then disappeared. As he was about to comment, huge raindrops
plopped on the ground followed by pea size hail that grew to softball size.
Josie ran for
cover and he followed. Protected under a ledge, she cupped her hands over her
ears as the roaring of the storm combined with huge ice balls smashing against
rocks echoed through the canyon. She elbowed him and cocked a brow in question,
pointing to the vegetation that remained unharmed.
His eyes
narrowed. Something isn’t right. I can feel it. Magic is spinning this storm.
But who—how and why? At a loss for answers, he shrugged and urged her further
under the ledge to wait out the storm. Brushing the wet strands of hair out of
her face, he smiled. She looked like a drowned rat but the fragrance around her
reminded him of sweet spring flowers. He leaned into to her and brushed his
lips over hers. Immediately, he straightened and backed away. Her eyes were
still closed. Maybe I could’ve lingered…
Her eyes blinked
open and she licked her lips. After a beat, she waggled a finger in front of
him. “Not a good idea.”
About the Author:
Tena Stetler is a best-selling author of award winning paranormal romance novels. She has an over-active imagination, which led to writing her first vampire romance as a tween to the chagrin of her mother and delight of her friends.
With the Rocky Mountains outside her window, she sits at her computer surrounded by a wide array of paranormal creatures, with a Navy SEAL or two mixed in telling their tales. Her books tell stories of magical kick-ass women and strong mystical males that dare to love them. Travel, adventure and a bit of mystery flourish in her books along with a few companion animals to round out the tales.
Colorado is her home; shared with her husband of many moons, a brilliant Chow Chow, a spoiled parrot and a forty-five-year-old box turtle. Any winter evening, you can find her curled up in front of a crackling fire with a good book, a mug of hot chocolate and a big bowl of popcorn.
Website: https://www.tenastetler.com
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