It is already December 13 and the tree is finally up and it actually is totally decorated…..except for the candy canes that will get put on at the last minute. For some reason Christmas decorating at our home seems to take a while to wind up and get started.
I am thinking it is because I kind of hate to take down the fall decorations and give in to the fact that it is the winter season. But…..the day arrived and my husband retrieved the totes that held the tree and all that is needed to make our house festive and lit for the holiday.
As I took the strands of lights out of the freezer bags I had stored them in; my husband started laughing. He thought my balls of light strands resembled something from the movie Christmas Vacation. Since he was right on that thought, I let him share in the joy of untangling those strands of lights.
My Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas holiday seem to tangle all through each other and this year has been no exception. As I was making Christmas cookies I was also finishing up baking out my pumpkins from the garden.
I can probably justify the pumpkin baking as I do make a pumpkin pie for dessert for Christmas dinner. We have some die-hard pumpkin pie lovers at our house that day.
There is something wonderful about the tangling of seasons and holidays. It seems to reflect the tangling of life and the tangling of days. At least my days and my life sometimes resemble that strand of lights that come out of the bag as a ball.
It takes patience to unsnarl that strand of lights. It takes a gentle touch and a sense of calm. There is a lot to be learned when untangling strands of Christmas lights. Things like handling life with patience. Treating others with a gentle touch. Remaining calm when faced with situations that look impossible to straighten out.
Let’s take time this holiday season to deal gently with those around us…..you never know what they are dealing with or how snarled their life is. Let’s be patient and calm when the world seems to be going to fast and seems cruel…..let’s untangle those strands and let our lights shine.
I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a man
by the way he handles these three things:
a rainy holiday,
lost luggage,
and tangled Christmas tree lights.
~Anonymous 52-year-old,
quoted in H. Jackson Brown, Jr.,
Live and Learn and Pass It On, 1991
The Chicken Grandma 
We keep Thanksgiving and Christmas separated, but not by much. The two holidays are too close together to suit me.
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This year they are really close together! Maybe that is why I feel so behind?
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I always panic in the middle of December. Looks like I would have learned by now that December days go twice as fast as those of other months.
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Lolol….this year Amazon to the rescue and finish up on tuesday. I also have amazing daughter in laws who find stuff for the grandkids for this Gpa & Gma to give😁
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Having such a gift service is a marvel, indeed.
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Seems like a gentle transition from one holiday to another. My wife has the habit of allowing her necklaces get tangled and I have the responsibility of untangling them. I actually have my set of instruments and magnifying glasses. It is calming and provides a sense of accomplishment. I’ve never met a tangle I couldn’t undo.
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I am now wondering if every woman gets her necklaces in a knot? It does take a great amount of focus to untangle those with fine chains. My tools for that consist of a strong light (so I can see) and a couple straight pins to move the links around and loosen them.
You are a good man to take on that job!
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I always love your posts – you always have a great life lesson in each post. I have great patience when it comes to untangling Christmas lights, but often get stressed when my life gets in a tangled mess. I should turn those two around and calm down. I will work on that. Loved the last quote about men. Happy Holidays to you and yours.
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How lovely for you to have one festive season that blends into another. In Australia, we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, so Christmas is very much a stand alone celebration. How sensible of you to talk about tangles in our lives that we can untangle with care and patience, like the lights. I need to take that lesson to heart. Thank you.
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Once our Christmas season is done it is a long stretch till our next holiday. I also need to take my own lessons to heart! And you are so welcome Maureen.
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Happy holidays to you to Peggy! I never minded untangling things either. Kind of like working a puzzle. Totally understand about the stress with life tangles!
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At our house untangling lights is my job. I f my husband had to do it he would probably find a better way to store them so they don’t tangle. That probably says a lot about both of us. 🙂
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I used to wind the strands around pieces of heavy cardboard but it seemed like they still tangled and bunched up so now I just put them in gallon freezer bags.
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Tangled lights, tangled lights, tangled all the way,
Oh what fun it is to try, to get those lights to splay.
Tangled lights, tangled lights, if one breaks so do all
I guess the only answer is, some new ones at the mall!
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Love that!!!! I was singing as I was reading.
You are right that if one breaks the rest do not work! I am always scared to try replace burnt out lights as typically it makes the rest worthless. I should probably think ahead and purchase new lights after the holiday so I have spare on hand.
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I love the weaving one holiday and one season into the other. I also agree that we need to enjoy and treasure each one. Great post ❤️
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Thank you so much Kathy. There is something about Thanksgiving blending into Christmas. I wonder if that is why after Christmas it seems like such a long stretch till the next holiday.
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Our lives are so much like the tangled bunch of lights. A string of colorful events. Such a lesson in faith, love and hope. Thank goodness for Amazon! It saved me from rushing around like I was insane. I wish you and your family a very blessed Christmas 💗 I tripped into the Christmas cookies…I need to get back on track tomorrow.
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I keep putting the Christmas goodies in a tote in our unheated garage. That way I don’t eat them as I make them! Tho I did enjoy a piece or 2 of fudge😮
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Amazon has been to our place a few times in the past week too – okay, the delivery guy is almost on a first name basis with my husband. Most of our shopping, however, was done at some of the local shops. Costs a bit more, but much more pleasant than battling the freeway traffic to drive to the city!
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I love to shop our local shops. It helps people we actually know and yes….so much easier on the stress level.
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goodness-I needed this post-I have been in a “tangle” lately-but the wonder of it all is that I feel peaceful anyway. Christmas lights – I have stored them so carefully and no matter what I do, they always want to quarrel! Merry Christmas my friend and thank you. love Michele
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Christmas can be kind of a “tangly” season with so much going on. You have a blessed Christmas Michele!
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merry merry Christmas my dear Faye!
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Faye, Please send your email address to me at rvisotski@gmail.com…got to send you something.
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Sent you an email.
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