In an age long past (about 25-years ago) Sara and I used to bundle up the kids and go look at Christmas lights.
It was so neat to hear and see our little boys get excited about the lights, Rudolph and of course Santa Claus.
But time marches on, the boys are men and COVID has us all sheltering in place.
So Sara, Daniel and I bundled up this week and took a tour of Clarksdale.
West Second Street
I live on West Second and I am proud to say my neighbors have a holiday goal to bring a little Christmas cheer to Clarksdale.
I even got a letter from one my neighbors urging Ingrams to not let current events darken this holiday.
It went on to say lights and decorations need to be up by this weekend.
There is something positive to be said about peer pressure and keeping up with the Jones in Clarksdale.
If we want Clarksdale to catch the Christmas spirit, then WE have to show it.
Take a ride down West Second Sunday night!
Snowflakes
I watched CPU linemen hook up the snowflakes downtown this week.
They also replaced any broken bulbs and straightened up Clarksdale’s holiday decorations that I understand are a tradition that is older than me.
It takes a lot of men and women to make the lights come on around here.
In this Season of Light, we need to be thankful for CPU.
The Tree
Sara put up the tree last week.
You can see it shining in the bay window of our humble abode.
My job in this endeavor is to set the tree up on a stand, step back out of the way and let the professionals do their work.
Watching my wife pull out decorations made by tiny hands years ago and see her carefully place them on our tree is one of my special Christmas traditions.
As this COVID Christmas destroys so many events and traditions, I savor even more those that remind me of my many happy holiday memories.
Standing guard
There is a photo on Page One and a Letter to the Editor on Page 5 that I encourage you to read.
The story stands by itself, but having been raised in a military family, it has once again reminded me there are men and women this holiday season serving our country in far away places that have no concept of Christmas.
My mother and daddy worked hard to make Christmas a little easier for those stationed at USAF bases with my father.
Momma once baked 12-dozen cookies and Daddy put on a Santa suit to carry those cookies around to airmen in Columbus, Mississippi who were so far from home.
Please say a prayer for those serving our country and us this Christmas.
Floyd Ingram is the Editor of your Clarksdale Press Register. Please call him at 662-627-2201 to share your memories of Christmas in Clarksdale.
