Candy Cane Lane

There are some memories from my childhood that I can't wait to resurrect. In fact, reliving some of these fond memories is one of the great perks of having kids. It is our right and duty as parents to make sure that they too enjoy week nights filled with tuna casserole and summers away at Camp Chippewa Bay. Tonight, as the cold winds blew, hot chocolate and bags of popcorn in hand, we drove to what was once known as Candy Cane Lane in Westchester. A subdivision of lawns where illuminated, plastic manger scenes, mechanical Santa-copters and grazing deer all had a place...and usually in one yard. Back in the 80s, Boeger Drive would be a parking lot as car after car would gawk at each home's representation of the season in lights. It was a regular homage to Com Ed. Today as we pulled in, I wasn't quite sure if we were in the right place. My heart sunk as I realized most homes on the block had embraced the "less is more" approach to the holidays. Where were the pink tinseled trees? Where was the life size Mr and Mrs. Claus? Where in the hell was the Santa-copter? But just as I was about to deflate completely, I hear repeated "wows" from the back seat. I realized that maybe this was Candy Cane Lane after all. Maybe I was looking at it with the eyes of an adult. And with each passing "wow", I was further transported to the back seat of my father's Volkswagen and the magic was revived. Thanks E.