This morning on my way to work I noticed the first set of Christmas lights shining brightly. I know the next big event after Halloween is Christmas, but it’s only been a couple of weeks since the trick or treaters were at my door. That’s a pretty quick transition into the Christmas season!

I remember when I was a kid, my dad would make sure we had the brightest house on the block when it came to Christmas. He put lights up everywhere. The house, the trees, the fence. I imagine every time we turned those suckers on the people at the power company went, “Whoa. What was that?” I loved the way they looked, but I didn’t enjoy helping my dad put them up.

Every year, a couple of weeks before Christmas, mom and dad would take us kids for a drive around the city to look at Christmas lights. I used to love that. There was something magical about it all.

In the past, my wife and I have taken our granddaughters to Candy Cane Lane. I can only imagine how much money that neighbourhood adds to the city coffers every year with those power bills, but I’m guessing it’s a big chunk of change. If you’ve never seen Candy Cane Lane before, you really should make it a point to get out there this winter. It doesn’t matter whether you’re 8 or 80, it’s a wonderful thing to behold. It won’t be long before we’re promoting that again.

If you’re one of those who have your lights up, but aren’t sure when to turn them on, do it now! It certainly my brightens up my otherwise drab drive into work.