If you take a stroll downtown or hop into the car some evening to check out the Christmas lights, you will likely see that the holiday season is alive and well in the Shiretown and surrounding communities.
Each year, my wife and I like to bundle the children up and head out to look at the many beautifully decorated homes in the area. This year, it was extra special as we asked my mother to come along for the ride.
Driving around town, while sipping on hot chocolate and munching on doughnut balls, we were amazed at how many houses had such creative displays of lights, sculptures and decorations. The hot cocoa seemed like a good idea before we left, but apparently it created a bit of a sugar rush as the girls were an unusual bundle of hyper energy.
Personally, I have always wanted to decorate our home like Clark Griswold in the classic “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” but my wife prefers to keep things more subdued. That is probably a good thing, as chances are I would likely fall from a ladder and break something if I attempted such a thing.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are sure to be filled with plenty of excitement in our house as well. I spent a portion of the weekend wrapping presents to place under the tree, when my youngest daughter told me that she would now have to count all the packages again. Apparently, she has been keeping tabs of who has the most presents, and promptly reminds me if her count is lower than her sister’s. Oh to be 8 years old again.
Last year, we had to wake up our oldest daughter to come open packages. I thought that wasn’t going to happen until at least the teenage years, but apparently things happen earlier than ever these days. It makes me worried about what the future holds in store, because I’ll admit it, the thought of an emotional teenager in my home is downright terrifying.
Spending time with family is high on our list of things to do this year. There truly is no better way to spend the holiday than with family, munching on dishes that only seem to be made once a year. Perhaps that is a good thing, since excessive amounts of chips, dips and such would not be so great for the waistline.
And while celebrating with loved ones is all well and good, let us not forget the true reason for celebrating the season — the birth of Jesus Christ. Sunday evening, we took part in a candlelight service at the Houlton Wesleyan Church. Listening to the songs sung by the choir, followed by a moment of singing “Silent Night” as the group lined the walls of the church in a massive circle was powerful to say the least.
I hope that you all can take a moment this holiday to pause and reflect on those things that are important in your lives. The staff of the Houlton Pioneer Times wishes all of our readers a very Merry Christmas. Our offices will be closed both Wednesday and Thursday this year to be with family.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for the Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@nepublish.com or 532-2281.
