Ur My Sunshine

If you’ve ever seen the movie “Christmas Vacation,” you’ve probably recognized traces of Clark Griswold in the people you know. My father was similarly obsessed with putting on the most gaudy, elaborate display of lights on the block. Tact and subtlety were not terms that held much weight in his mind, and the other heads of household in the neighborhood only stoked his competitive spirit.

There are two events that my siblings and I could always count on when Christmas time rolled around. First, our dad would take every opportunity to gloat about the lighting effects at our annual holiday party. Then, when the December electrical bill arrived sometime in January, he would stomp around the house in sheer disbelief that all that wastefulness could come at a cost. I think of those times now in my adult life when I string up a solar Christmas light or two around the residence.

My wife and I just finished hosting our annual Halloween party, and for the first time it went off without a hitch. Don’t get me wrong: we’ve always had a blast bobbing for apples, voting on the best costume and carving jack-o’-lanterns, but never before has the party gotten off to such a great start. In years past, friends and acquaintances were forever driving past our driveway without realizing it. They would spend several minutes turning around and circling back to the house.

This year, I started looking for outdoor LED lights in early October. We found a handsome faux rock with an easily legible front-panel display. This new addition has made it effortlessly simple for visitors to spot our address glowing bright from hundreds of yards off. Since it takes rechargeable batteries, I know we’ll be relying on it to light the way for years to come.