Christmas Lawn Ornaments

"OH my God. What a train wreck!" I say as I round the corner of Hunter Avenue in the town I grew up in.

I HATE lawn Ornaments.

I look at the split level dark brown shingled ranch on the corner. Not a square inch of lawn is available.

There are lit up soldiers along the walkway.
A white lit up sleigh with a single reindeer
A snowglobe
there are candy cane lights strung around the yard.
A large bear in a Santa hat
more lit up reindeer
A large plastic santa
A large plastice snowman
Some Dickens Carolers from the days of yore ( LITERALLY).

the house was fascinating in it's awfulness. A little bit comforting too.... but largely facsinating.

My best friends parent's home has not changed much ever. Nor have they. Her mom answered the door - she looks the same and wonderful. Her dad gave me a big bear hug while he took a break from his video game with his grandson.

D looks fantastic. I haven't seen her 4 years. Since her littlest girl was in a carrier. Aimee is 6 now and quite the little girl. Mary is 10 and gorgeous. A bit of a tom boy. But remembered why I was funny and nice which was cool.

Chris looks the same and he and D make me laugh with their parenting. They are super at it. But so much themselves. It was as if no time had passed. literally. We caught up in the kitchen in the banquet which we both agreed had to go. We sat their picking on leftovers from Christmas dinner and drinking water and sodas and whatever was left around. I looked Aimee's drawings and Mary's stuffed animals. I laughed at chris' forcing the girls to go to bed and then needing Mary to get up and help him get out of his video game because he couldn't figure it out.

I laughed at D's parents going to bed while we were still sitting there yapping - every Christmas of our lives has gone like that and many many many other kinds of non event days.

I left at 11 and drove home exhausted. But happy. D and I had a good time.