“May You Never Be Too Grown Up To Search The Skies On Christmas Eve.”-Unknown

Bolten MA Christmas Lights Display

Over the Christmas holiday, Dr. Farmer Moomin, and I go driving, an exciting event for me as I rarely leave this homestead. Well… He drives since I don’t know how. I sit in the passenger seat being harsh and judgemental of everyone’s lights. The darkness closes around us and then there it is, glowing loud enough to be the result of Chernobyl. Some nutter has all these lit up Christmas blow up dolls, a lit up blow up pig with a Santa hat is laughing at us from the cacophony of lights spread out across the front lawn. Lights that are probably visible on Jupiter. We blink for a moment taking in the entire calamitously, catastrophic, fiasco. It looks as if a blow up doll factory and a Light Bright, made a very ugly baby.  I ask my spouse in a horror filled whisper, “What do you think they are smoking?” Dr. Farmer Moomin, shrugs and answers, “Bath salts maybe?” I nod slowly, unable to tear myself away from the train wreck of lights in front of us, “maybe…” And we drive on traumatized by the noisy multi colored display. This is one of our most sacred, cherished, and hallowed traditions, this yearly drive to see, mock, and otherwise enjoy the local Christmas lights.

I don’t photograph other people’s houses as a matter of principle. I have a policy here of respecting people’s privacy unless given permission to do otherwise. I don’t trespass. Instead, I take photos of the light displays in some of the other local towns in public areas. Periodically stopping our tour of judgement. But why do we go driving beyond the borders of our own town for this? Because our town seems to have one very tall tree which they light on one side. It looks highly trashy and it causes me depression. Therefore we drive to visit some of the other local small towns with granted very small displays, but nice ones all the same.

We don’t just drive seeking houses to mock. We also keep the look out for the beautiful colonials perfectly lit with very traditional white lights. They too are all over the area and they can and do take our breath away. Seeing such a beautiful display, brings hope for the future to our hearts. We sit in the car as we pass commenting on how stunningly beautiful it is. We discuss the way our heart warms at the sight. How the lights give us a sense of peace and hope. Then we drive on eyes peeled for more of these amazing sights that speak to the deepest part of our souls.

Bolton, my darling neighboring town, don’t you ever change! I don’t know what we would do without the lights you display. Your light brings us so much hope and joy.

The snow crunches as I cross the grass to take these photos, just under my feet, and the light reflects on it. Lights somehow are always nicer in the snow. Then I head back to the car to keep driving. To keep searching for those displays that light me up as I pass. The ones that bring us hope and a sense that all is right in the world. At least, for the moment here, in the back of beyond Massachusetts where there be dragons on the map, all is right in the world. Until…. We drive back through our own town and can’t avoid seeing our single over sized dumpy looking tree. There is just no escaping it. So we shake our heads and drive on towards home.

Bolton Christmas Lights

Christmas lights are like tiny sparkling bottles of hope.
Drink them in because right now we need all the hope we can get.
It truly is wonderful to have had a white Christmas for the first time in years.
Thank you for reading
Amanda Of Wildflower Farm