Unmet Expectations

Considering Amazon is already pushing the holiday season full blast, we figured today would be a good day to decorate the tree outdoors with lights.

45 days to go says Google.

There’s a cold snap on the way and now that we have a child we want her to have memories of the glow of Christmas lights on the tree outside her window so she can have the perfect childhood.

*Photo by Kieran White on Unsplash¹

I could have done this alone. In hindsight I may have preferred to do it alone. In fact, I pretty much did do it alone because of the idea:reality ratio.

If you’ve never heard of the idea:reality ratio, let me give you an example:

As a subscriber to this newsletter the idea would be to be entertained while reading. The reality is that the content is middling at best – and it’s gotten so bad that readers are unsubscribing daily and even BW has complained.

This brings us to the tree:

The idea: the fall leaves, the breeze, the laughter of children playing while your wife helpfully assists in making sure each little bulb is placed just so for a pinterest-worthy card while she holds your hot chocolate waiting for you when get down from the ladder.

The reality: it’s just freaking cold and windy, the child and the wife got bored long ago and somebody let the dog outside. BW has found somebody on the street to talk to and the child has decided whilst I turn my attention for a second to attempt to climb up and hang her own decorations and then complain that she’s scared and the step stool is wobbly.

Meanwhile, I’ve got these crappy little lights BW bought on TEMU get caught on every effing branch and I’m not dragging a big ladder outside just to fall off it because there’s no good spot to lean it against a tree.

This leaves us with the result of “eh, good enough” for tree decorating this year.

Summary

You may see those well-meaning Christmas catalogs with the perfect trees and houses decorated and everybody is wearing perfect little outfits where even the plaids on the shirts match the linings of the cute little boots.

You might even dream that if only you bought those Christmas lights and started to wear plaid that you too could live the perfect little life of plaid and lights - not only this Christmas – but for many more to come.

That’s the idea talking. The idea just talks.

The reality doesn’t talk. It demonstrates.

Tonight they demonstrated they do not work at all.

This is my reality.

Until Next Time, TH and Co.