This would not be the first time that people have let heated political rhetoric dump cold eggnog on the joy of their Christmas season.
To help the Nation cope with the energy crisis that winter, the government asked the American people to make the ultimate sacrifice: No Christmas lights. Some states, like Oregon, passed laws banning Christmas lights outright, others just asked their populace to refrain. Still other communities did their parts by outlawing lights at the local level. (Seriously? In a town powered by hydro-electric dams, banning Christmas lights was going to stop the effects of the Yom Kippur War?)
The town where I grew up passed an ordinance: No Christmas lights, or you will be fined. (Cue dramatic music. dun-dun-daaaa.)
Let me tell you about my mother. My mother was a holiday FANATIC. If she were alive today she would have a blog called “How to Overdo for the Holidays”. And she loved Christmas – both parts. Our house was always decorated and festive – and then some.
When the ruling came down from the government that Christmas lights were banned, she was outraged. She was defiant. She sent my dad to the lumberyard to get a 4’x8′ sheet of plywood. She painted it, decorated it with elves and a string of lights. Then they mounted it smack dab in the middle of our front yard. It brazenly declared:
They were the only Christmas lights on the street, and I think the only lights in the town. We felt she had made her point, but it wasn’t enough for her. She had my dad- who was a willing accomplice – set up spotlights to shine on her “Christmas Card to President Nixon”. It was so bright, and the street so dark, that I think you could have seen it from space.
All that holiday season we waited for the dreaded knock on the door telling us to turn it off. To us – especially as kids – this was crazy rebel stuff. We waited for the fine that never came. It was my first brush with civil disobedience, all for the sake of Christmas.
Go Mom!
In 1973 I worked in a small general store that had a gas pump out front. The price gauge was set (and broken) at 25 cents a gallon so we just charged double. If it weren’t for that broken gauge I never would have remembered the 1973 price of gas all these years!
Your mom must be a rock star. I’d like to think that I would do the same.
That story made my day! Hooray for your Mom!
I love it!
I agree, your mom rocks!! ?
What a funny story…your Mom the rebel, never would have guessed. I like her protest 🙂 have a Merry Christmas!
Your Mom rocks!!!
I love that! Your mom sounds like one awesome lady!
hi just registered ,, tina
your mom right right to do this….I refused to turn down the thermostat back in that day, as well. IF there was a true gas shortage, I was going to go down toasty and warm…..politicians, wolf criers! to you I say, Bah Humbug
…your first, eh? And what was your second might I ask….hmmmm?
Your mom is awesome. She’s a Christmas hero! 🙂
I do believe I just fell in love with your parents.
What an amazing and fun mom you had!!!
Yeah for your mom! And I like that it didn’t take a lot to get the point across.
(And I’ll never forget being given the chore of getting gas as soon as I got my driver’s license. What parent wouldn’t take advantage of getting out of that hours-long task, which could only be done on “odd” days?)
Wahoo! Hurray for moms who like to make their point…and not directed at their children. 🙂 Terrific story.
I like that you included the part about your dad being a willing accomplice. 🙂
And your mom is now my hero.
Awesome story.
That’s my kind of peaceful protest. What a cool mom.
What a great story!! You should use that “energy crisis” picture for a Christmas card (d’oh! I forgot that would give you away). Nonetheless, it would be a good Christmas story for a Christmas card. :oP
WOW!!! Go Mom!
I’ve never heard this story before! I love it!