My Hero.

After he took down our Christmas lights on Saturday, Tony took down those of our elderly neighbor who lives alone. Not an entirely philanthropic deed on our part, but it is the greatest neighborhood success of the 21st century. Sure I'm amplifying the significance, but this is really really big! And I am very very happy!


You see, my neighbor has had her long hanging icicle lights affixed to her home for the last six years. And I'm not talking consecutive. Six continuous years, through winters and summers they were hanging down. She only lit them at Christmastime, however, they were a sore spot among all of our neighbors. I put a bug in her ear early in December and let her know that if she wanted them down I would talk to Tony...as long as she didn't want him to put them back up come next Christmas! So when I walked over and asked her Saturday, she was ready and wanted them down. She even brought out the trash bag! Our neighbors were practically cheering us on as Tony pulled them down. He also fixed some loose boards on her fence and replaced bulbs on her second strand of lights that are not coming down, but those are practically invisible and I can live with them, no problem.

And I lived with the icicle lights too, for six long years. Not the biggest problem I know but...

About four years ago Tony planted a row of hedges between our yards because I figured if her lights were staying up forever, maybe the bushes would grow up so tall that I wouldn't have to look at them in August. The hedge is beautiful and I am thankful for it, even though it didn't quite grow tall enough to obstruct the offending lights.

Problem solved by my hero. Three cheers for Tony! No wait, give me 10!