House on the Corner

There is a little white house that sits on the corner of two main cross streets near the center of town. It is a simple non-descript house quite easily overlooked save for one thing: outdoor decorations.

Yup.

This little unassuming house knows how to celebrate and commemorate pretty much every single...

holiday...

memorial...

festival...

jubilee...

tradition...

change of season...

and...

day of observance.

When I first came upon this house four years ago, I thought to myself,

"Wow...they really take their decorations seriously...that must cost a small fortune in electricity to say nothing of set up and storage and cost of purchase..." 

Over the next few months, I began to notice that the only testament to life within this house seemed to be the year-round merry-go-round of revolving door decorations. 

Four years of holidays and festivals and celebrations of all kinds have come and gone since that first day and yet here I am still fascinated and in awe of their decorating prowess and commitment. It has become a tradition of sorts - a virtual I Spy game - as my kids and I try to identify some new trinket, bobble, creature or lights that have been added to a festive scene. 

I can literally set my calendar to the comings and goings of outdoor decorations at the house on the corner. 

Perhaps my favorite display comes about at Christmas time.  In the yard at the side of the house sits a rather large pine tree; one that could almost rival the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in NYC...almost. 

Every year strings and strings and strings of blue and white lights adorn the tree bringing it to life in the night sky with color and sparkle and a kind of winter wonderland magic. 

And as we pass the little house on the corner...it is near impossible not to smile and feel the wonder of the holiday.

Even so, I find myself so easily slipping into the busy pace of life,

buzzing along,

checking my lists,

hurrying at a harried pace...

as if there was a race to be won...

and then I see it again...

the house on the corner -

shimmering and sparkling with its lights and decorations - 

reminding me to slow down,

celebrate the day...

the season...

the moment...

life itself.

For there is always something to celebrate.