Every year for the past twelve years, we have taken the girls to Gaddy's to tour the light display.
It began when we
moved here and a friend casually asked if we had heard of the awesome light
display near us. Armed with directions, we headed out after dinner to see what
all the fuss was about. We drove through three times that first night and once
or twice a night after dinner until Christmas eve. The girls would sit in their
car seats mesmerized by the different displays. They'd talk about it and
compare which they liked the best. Every year after, we'd try to pick out the
new additions and fawn over the old. We have never been disappointed.
The best year was
when they were seven and five and Santa was there. I opened the van door and
let them get out of their car seats. The looks on their faces when Santa leaned
into the car, handed them a candy cane, asked them if they were being good
little girls, and backed away with a hearty HO! HO! HO!. The lookson
their faces as they climbed back into their car seats...priceless.
When my husband
was in Iraq, we upheld the tration and sent him photos. When friends and family
come to town, we drive them over to share the lights. When new friends are
made, they are told about Gaddy's.
It was (and is and
will always be)our family Christmas tradition.
The Gaddy family
has invited the community to drive through their property for the past 22
years. They begin setting up the lights 2 months before Thanksgiving. I can't even
begin to imagine how many lights are involved in this extravaganza. Now that I
think about it, I wonder where they keep everything during the off
season? I've been told the power company gives them a break on their electric
bill. Santa shows up each year to hand out candy canes and they collect toys
for Toys for Tots.
P.S. That five year
old is now a teenager and tonight she stood on the passenger seat with her head
out the sunroof taking pictures.
What more can I say?
Go Gaddy's!
No comments:
Post a Comment