There is an old Amish story about how their Christmas lights don't shine very bright since they are carved out of wood.
I don't know why I should be thinking of that while driving to work, unless it's because I was stopped at a traffic light, looking up at one of the city's candy cane decorations.
My mind flashed back to my own childhood, when the city had strung gaily colored lights and garland above the streets from sidewalk to sidewalk ... and there were those big red bells that lit up in turn to look as though it were swinging back and forth.
The light turned green, and with one last look at the candy cane, I moved on. These candy canes may not create the same type of Christmas fantasy as did the decorations of the past, but I do think that it is great that they let the local third graders design and build them. Yes, I know that's not true, but that is what they look like and don't you think it adds a much needed touch of warmth to the story? If you tell the tourists that, their blank stares turn into such lovely smiles.
Someone insisted that these meager decorations are better than no decorations at all. That's probably true. Still, I can't imagine our grandchildren, some 30 years from now, waxing nostalgic about these fuzzy little flat creations.
I agree with the Amish that Christmas is all about the Christ child and that the decorations don't really matter all that much, but I do think that we could do a little better... at least for the children.
Leonard R. Phillips
Marietta
