Sounds Of The Season

   Those huge boxes I lugged onto the
porch Tuesday are, as I write, being
unloaded by my wife. She is carefully
placing all kinds of Christmas
decorations throughout our living
room.
   I have already been surrounded by
my children's original Christmas
stockings, a Santa head fashioned
from a Clorox bottle, several snowmen,
a Gingerbread man, and a stocking
fashioned to resemble the Leg Lamp
from "A Christmas Story."
   They are all displays designed to put
us and visitors in the Christmas spirit.
And, for the most part, they're all
harmless.
    Then, there are the "musical"
items! Beware when Christmas novelties
require batteries!
    We have a Santa with candle in
hand that moves his arms as Jingle
Bells, We Wish You A Merry
Christmas, and Santa Claus Is Coming
To Town ring out through a hidden,
non high fidelity, speaker mounted
somewhere in his stand.
   Another display features the jolly
old elf sitting beside a reindeer and
a penguin. Throw the switch and the
trio offer a verbal rendition of Jingle
Bells. This is not the Kingston Trio!
   Just inches away a camel, lamb,
and donkey sit ready to sing We Three
Kings. That one has a faulty switch
for which I'm very grateful!
   They're all enjoyable...the first time
they're activated. But when the grand
kids visit and discover the switches
you're in for a marathon concert
that will leave the tunes echoing in
your head, often preventing sleep, and
leave you praying for a "Silent Night!"
   There are times when "Batteries Not
Included" is a real blessing!
    Hope you are in tune for Christmas
and that all of your NEWS is good!