Christmas Decorating

We started early this year putting up decorations for Christmas. While I wanted to go all Griswold on the decorating we had to bring it down a notch as little hands love to grab everything in their reach.

I'm not sure if it is obvious from the photo but the lower region of our tree remained free from ornaments to keep Stella from bring the whole thing down. We implemented a plan. We would pretend like it was just another piece of furniture that just happened to grow out of the ground. And though it was there, We would never acknowledge it. The plan kinda worked. During the entire season Stella didn't have any interest in the tree but maybe once or twice.

Last year around this time we were preparing for Stella's arrival so very little decorations went up. This year I told Belinda that there was no excuse for not putting at least some lights up around the house.


We have a one story home. I grew up in a tri level home. As a child we would climb up on that roof and walk around up there like it was nothing. So in my mind putting up lights on the roof of this house was going to be a piece of cake.

Allow me to digress. I remember it was around this time at work that I was being surrounded by people who would complain, complain, complain. Now everyone complains. I complain. But something about the people at work that was getting to me is that they were complaining about something that could be remedied but for their in actions. I remember noticing that people were choosing to abstain from finding solutions and condemning proposals by others. One of my hopes for Stella is that she becomes a "doer." I hope that she becomes one of those people who will see problems as opportunities to succeed and grow rather than reason to be complacent or apathetic. Problems are not reasons to fail. Thinking of this made me want to post a part of a speech that I hope she will strive to be. Its was a speech often labeled "The Man in the Arena" given by Theodore Roosevelt on April 23rd, 1910. The primary excerpt is this:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

At this point you might be asking yourself if I have a subscription to Successories products or Chicken Soup for the Soul books. The answer is yes - probably since the age of ten. With that said I would like to bring you back to our Christmas decorations.

I did my research and found the best deals on Christmas lights around. Decided to fork out the extra money for LED lights as they are more environmentally friendly. It was nap time for Stella so I was going to take advantage of the time and put the lights up outside. I got the ladder ready, checked the lights and created my plan. All this while Belinda is putting Stella to sleep.

Feeling the pride of home ownership within me and the joy of accepting this task as one of my fatherly duties I took my ladder to the side of the house. Climbing higher and higher I kept looking around hoping someone would appreciate my dedication to decorating our home but no one was to be seen. As I got to the roof I knew with my first step that something was different about this experience and the one I use to have as a kid. Though I felt this hint of reluctance I kept going. Placing both feet on the roof I broke away from the ladder.

And just as valiantly as I got to the top of the roof I sat down before I thought I was going off the side of the house. Yeah. This roof was not climber friendly. So I went to get to the ladder and climb down and I couldn't. Something about the angle and the tilt of the ladder made me feel like I was going to take one step and fall right down to the floor. Thankfully I had my cell phone with me so I called Belinda. After fifteen calls to her phone she finally answered.

"Where you at?"
    "Can you come outside?" I asked.
"Where are you?
    "Outside."
"Why cant you come inside?"
    "Can you please come outside so I can explain."
"Fine. Where are you outside."
    "Come to the side of the house. Look for the ladder."
"What are you doing up there?"
    "I'm Stuck. I was going to put up the lights."
"Oh Lord! How you going to get down?"
    "CAME YOU PLEASE COME OUTSIDE!"

Belinda moved the ladder to a position where I could get on the ladder by holding onto a tree which made supporting myself much easier. Right after that I went to Home Depot and bought a Christmas light installer that allowed you to hang lights without leaving the ground.

So here is the moral of the story Stella. Don't be afraid to get in the "arena."  Just make sure you know the arena is on solid ground. And if you happen to be in a spot where your over your head. Your mom or I will be their to help with the ladder.