I think I was just shamed

[The emperor has no clothes]

I went out with a load of ladders and tools to remove the Christmas lights and decorations. As I was doing this a couple were walking on the sidewalk. It’s pretty common on our street to have this. I said hello to them as I was carrying a ladder. The greeting wasn’t returned, but the man said “Christmas is over”. I laughed and said yeah I was a little behind this year. As they continued walking the lady looked at me and said “we were wondering if you were going to take them down”. I’ve not met these folks before, and they very well may be Snowbirds. They may live a couple miles away, I don’t know. But, I do believe I was shamed today by my neighbors.
 After I got done today, I asked Brenda when was the appropriate time period for removal. Her judgement is the 26th thru the 1st. I think I might have just been shamed by my own wife. 

[Willow]

There are a lot of properties in my area that are still displaying their Christmas decorations. 

Historically Christmas celebrations continued from 25 December through 06 January.

People have varying opinions on when is too early or too late to display Christmas decoration.  Based upon their own opinions people may sling shame toward you but whether or not it is received is controlled strictly by you.   

[da prez]

  My quick witty reply " I was waiting for your help , you let me down".  W H A T business is it of theirs. Is there an HOA.
  Some people will complain if you hang them with a new rope.
  I own an apartment building.  Some guy walked up to me and said the building looked like a junk yard.  I told him to report me to the village ,and to get off my property.  I was fixing a lawn mower. My building is F A R F A R from a junk yard.  A few days later the compliance officer stopped by to say Hi.
  He was checking out the complaint. Said when he passes , nothing looked out of place.

                                           da prez

[Moonshot_1]

I went out with a load of ladders and tools to remove the Christmas lights and decorations. As I was doing this a couple were walking on the sidewalk. It’s pretty common on our street to have this. I said hello to them as I was carrying a ladder. The greeting wasn’t returned, but the man said “Christmas is over”. I laughed and said yeah I was a little behind this year. As they continued walking the lady looked at me and said “we were wondering if you were going to take them down”. I’ve not met these folks before, and they very well may be Snowbirds. They may live a couple miles away, I don’t know. But, I do believe I was shamed today by my neighbors.
 After I got done today, I asked Brenda when was the appropriate time period for removal. Her judgement is the 26th thru the 1st. I think I might have just been shamed by my own wife. 

It is always Christmas.

Last verse from "Christmas time is here"

Christmastime is here
Families drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year

No reason why we can't see such Spirit through the year.

[Robert]

When she said Christmas is over, I would have said not for me. 

[Jess from VA]

In my experience (and in my neighborhood), the people who put more (sometimes much much more) work and money into their decorations (lights, wreaths, bunting, nativity, yada, yada) are the people that leave it up the longest.  

They are proud of their work, they view it as a public service to the neighborhood, and it took days to put up and will take days to take down.  

I enjoy it all.  Except I absolutely hate blinking lights of any kind.  Commercial as hell, and irritating.  Might as well say Joe's Bar and Grille & Topless Waitresses

[Sorcerer]

Our prior home the house lights were a permanent setup. It made it really easy when someone new was invited over. Look for the house with the Christmas lights on. There were a lot of green colored houses on the block. This year we’ve haven’t had any snow or hard freeze so I got all the yard decorations down and put away January 6. Previous years things got frozen down and had to wait for the spring thaw.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Truly, it didn’t bother me in the least. I was more taken aback than anything else. I’ve been lucky my whole life, I’ve never really cared that much what the average Joe thought of me. It just seemed weird that someone would be bothered by some lights and a wreath. Everybody is different though. Like we used to say back in the day, “different strokes for different folks”.

[Serk]

"Christmas is over? Oh, you think I'm taking the lights down? Oh no, I'm putting more up, never too early to start getting ready for next Christmas! Ho! Ho! Ho!"

[cookiedough]

i woulda told them if not like it, do not look and keep walking or go walk elsewhere.

If I want to take a leak in my own yard,  I should be allowed to, right?  If not like it, do not look.   

Just like my rich fancy builder 3 houses up from me when built my 1104 sq. ft basic ranch home in 1993.  He came driving by and stopped me not knowing him at the time nor knowing he was my neighbor.  He said he does not like my house does not fit in with the other houses in the area (little did I know he built with his company a lot of the homes in the area).   Me being age 23 and cocky, told him if he not like the looks of my house,  do not look at it then keep driving by.   Some people have balls of steel to be so cocky and arrogant, they deserve to be  knocked off their high horse.  Have not really spoke to him since.  fine by me.

Oh well,  some people in my small town think they own it simply because they are rich and think they have infuence above the law.   Pretty sure same rich builder up the street called the cops on my about 10 years ago when I left my 7x23 ft enclosed trailer parked on the street in front of my own house for 5 days straight not moving it.  EVERYONE does it in town UNTIL someone bitches to the police has to be moved every 24 hours supposedly.  So, I could hook trailer up to my truck and pull forward 10 ft and that counts.  I was planning on putting back in my yard in a few more days, but 5 days doing no harm on wide street in front of my own house should be fine.  there are cars parked daily in front of their home on the street for months, who cares.

[Jersey mike]

I went out with a load of ladders and tools to remove the Christmas lights and decorations. As I was doing this a couple were walking on the sidewalk. It’s pretty common on our street to have this. I said hello to them as I was carrying a ladder. The greeting wasn’t returned, but the man said “Christmas is over”. I laughed and said yeah I was a little behind this year. As they continued walking the lady looked at me and said “we were wondering if you were going to take them down”. I’ve not met these folks before, and they very well may be Snowbirds. They may live a couple miles away, I don’t know. But, I do believe I was shamed today by my neighbors.
 After I got done today, I asked Brenda when was the appropriate time period for removal. Her judgement is the 26th thru the 1st. I think I might have just been shamed by my own wife. 

Geeze, yesterday was only the 9th…of January. Don’t know about where you live but around here many folks wait for decent weather and most importantly how does it fit into their own schedule.

A comment like that would have made me turn around and wait just a bit longer if possible.

[Robert]

You know there is an opening here to talk, when he gave the remark that Christmas is over and his wife's comments it should really ask why dont you like Christmas?

It can be an opening to talk and i have many times walked into the opening of conversations seeking to understand just ask them to explain their positions or why the comment. Its like opening a box that is not marked you never know whats inside.

Jehovah’s Witnesses dont believe and dont celebrate Christmas. So you never know what led to the comments but unfortunately in our society and life in general we perceive it as a slight, not knowing why. The fact that they may not celebrate is not a downer for you it could be you found the truth and they have not.  

My wife does not like the Jehovah's witnesses coming to the door, but I always answer. We have gotten into some conversations that resulted in more questions than they could answer.

One time a new convert came to the door with an experienced elder, by the time we were done the questions the young man had that the elder could not answer got the him flustered and the young man questioning his decision.

I admire the guts to go door to door opening the blank box not knowing what you are going to get.

But without a conversation and exchange of ideas we just dont know where someone is coming from and default many times to shame on me.

Maybe they are in their own prison by their own thoughts and ideas and need to have a bit of light shone on them. Hard to believe but you could be that light.  

There have been many openings and many conversations but some have led to people coming to Christ. There have been many that have led to no where also, but you never know. But very few have resulted in negative outcomes.  

Plus the more i talk to people the more I am amazed at the point of view of people and learn everyday about someone and their life. Some to bad but more to good and have wound up with a greater understanding.

[DIGGER]

I went out with a load of ladders and tools to remove the Christmas lights and decorations. As I was doing this a couple were walking on the sidewalk. It’s pretty common on our street to have this. I said hello to them as I was carrying a ladder. The greeting wasn’t returned, but the man said “Christmas is over”. I laughed and said yeah I was a little behind this year. As they continued walking the lady looked at me and said “we were wondering if you were going to take them down”. I’ve not met these folks before, and they very well may be Snowbirds. They may live a couple miles away, I don’t know. But, I do believe I was shamed today by my neighbors.
 After I got done today, I asked Brenda when was the appropriate time period for removal. Her judgement is the 26th thru the 1st. I think I might have just been shamed by my own wife. 

Shame on ya....ha

[h13man]

Whenever our bones, wind and weather cooperate here in the Northern flats if the wind hasn't blown them away yet. 

[RP#62]

You could have told them you were orthodox and have another week.
-RP

[The emperor has no clothes]

You could have told them you were orthodox and have another week.
-RP

I am seldom in real life quick enough to come up with a witty response. After thinking about it, I wish I had said I was now taking them down because I became an atheist. If I knew for sure they would be walking by again, I’d put up Easter decorations now.

[Wizzard]

Truly, it didn’t bother me in the least. I was more taken aback than anything else. I’ve been lucky my whole life, I’ve never really cared that much what the average Joe thought of me. It just seemed weird that someone would be bothered by some lights and a wreath. Everybody is different though. Like we used to say back in the day, “different strokes for different folks”.

From age 20-30 I cared what others thought about me.
From 30-50 I did not care what others thought about me.
From 60 on I realized others never thought about me.
 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Truly, it didn’t bother me in the least. I was more taken aback than anything else. I’ve been lucky my whole life, I’ve never really cared that much what the average Joe thought of me. It just seemed weird that someone would be bothered by some lights and a wreath. Everybody is different though. Like we used to say back in the day, “different strokes for different folks”.

From age 20-30 I cared what others thought about me.
From 30-50 I did not care what others thought about me.
From 60 on I realized others never thought about me.
 

 

[0leman]

Are neighbors across the street from us still have their lights on.   They never take the ones that outlines the roof off.  Of course, it's a two-story house and they are a family of rather heavy short folks.  Not sure I would want to climb a latter to take the light off and then have to climb it again to put them back up.  Not Red-Neck types, just plain good neighbors.