2 Hours Of My Life That I'll Never Get Back
Interlochen is a neighborhood in Arlington that boasts "One of the largest holiday light displays in north Texas". Most everyone in the neighborhood participates in decorating their yard with elaborate displays. It's fun to see and helps put you in the Christmas spirit.
We have gone to see the lights for several years in the past but hadn't been in a couple of years. Fast forward to 2007 - First of all the line to get into Interlochen was extremely long. Arlington police were on hand to keep everyone on route. The lights and displays were as nice as always, but what really got stuck in my craw was how commercialized even this had become.
Now I'm not talking about your basic retail commercialism, Santa vs. Jesus, etc. What I'm referring to is throughout the route people were set up selling popcorn and soda and hot chocolate and even glow lights and necklaces.
I know what you're thinking, these must have been enterprising people, those that saw an opportunity and moved on it (only in America). To me, Though, driving around looking at Christmas lights is a fun, family event, a sacred event. Now even that has been tarnished.
Bah, humbug!
And That's What I Think
P.S. MERRY CHRISTMAS, Y'ALL