Sometimes it’s hard to live down the road from Whistler… they have budgets for Christmas lights that probably transcend our town’s entire year-long landscaping and snow clearing budget… But I wonder whether that makes people complacent, overly reliant on services and contractors, if that assumption of services being taken care of, can possibly impoverish community a little bit? Because, the Charlie Brown tree-lover in me, is so delighted by the local initiatives here in our wee under-resourced communities, to bring joy and sparkles and light, at this time of deep dark and honouring the return of the light…

Like Mr Wallace on Main Street, Mount Currie, whose festive lights change for every holiday and always make me smile. Or Mr Joe, who took some of his own personal tree decorations to make another little Christmas tree along Main Street, into a work of art. The Signal Hill Elementary tree that is gorgeous, and the community barn tree, that is also beautiful, installed by the people at the Pemberton Community Church, and the lights by the barn and the roundabout, and gorgeously light-wrapped trees outside the community centre and the library, and all the folks who’ve wrapped their balconies, or windows… These all feel so magical to me. I mean, it’s nice to benefit from budgets designed to keep the tourists happy and delighted… but it’s even nicer to be part of a community effort to generate our own delight.

We drove into town last night for the kiddo’s piano concert and are back tonight for the school concert, and my fella, who skews a little Grinchy,(shh, don’t tell him, that would hurt his feelings and he’s really been getting a lot better), hasn’t been through town at night in the last week. Last night, he was all “oohs” and “ahhhs” and “isn’t that so pretty?”

Thank you, lovely light-bringers. You are contributing your magic, for us all to enjoy.

(Also, all are welcome at the Pemberton Library on Thursday when, in conjunction with the Pemberton Multicultural Network, they’ll/you’ll be decorating the library’s tree.