Asheville News

What a disappointment

Jason Sandford December 5, 2005

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

During all the recent discussion of Christmas lights (I blame Edgy Mama), syntax mentioned my all-time favorite home display of yuletide splendor – a little old lady’s home in West Ashvegas, just off Haywood Road.

I visit every year. I’ve been on cold and rainy nights. I’ve dropped by when it was so warm that the little old lady, in her house coat and slippers, stood outside and greeted passersby as if she’d known them her whole life. Actually, she probably has known many for years, many who do what I do and return each year for a little taste of her magic.

Sometimes she’ll have Elvis Christmas tunes playing over a loudspeaker. Almost always, you’ll spot her in her recliner, sitting in her front room watching her big-screen TV. God I love this woman.

Only this year, the light display lacks some of the dazzle. Many strands of light that once literally covered her roof and yard have disappeared. I hope I’m mistaken. I pray that it’s still early and that she’s got a grandson working on getting everything up and running. But for now, the over-the-top grandeur left me a little disappointed.

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

12 Bones

Elf

8 Comments

fred December 7, 2005

maybe shes not trying so hard to lure children to her house at 16 mildred. if you want to find out how nice she truly is try to park in front of her house during a outdoor movie at the westville pub.

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Edgy Mama December 6, 2005

We don’t have to ask, Syntax.

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syntax December 5, 2005

there was one year when they didn’t do the lights – either 2003 or 2004, iirc… we can only speculate, but we were thinking that the lady who owns that house on mildred ave. might have died and one of her sons or grandsons took over the reins the following year. or maybe no one had the time and/or energy to devote to setting everything up. or (this is probably the practical and/or politically correct guess) maybe they’re scaling back to save on their energy bill – running that kind of light show drains a lot of power. not as much as, say, two 300 watt high-pressure sodium full spectrum grow lamps in the attic would, but still quite a bit.

(don’t ask how i know about the 300 watt high-pressure sodium full-spectrum grow lamps…)

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Dad December 5, 2005

I like the sentiment a lot. (Yours that is.)

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Edgy Mama December 5, 2005

No more Cold Mountain at Greenlife. I asked yesterday. How about Wednesday? And La Fin du Monde?

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Ash December 5, 2005

I’ll take ’em. And I’ll take a bottle of Cold Mountain Ale, if you can still find it.

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Edgy Mama December 5, 2005

"I go to visit"?

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Edgy Mama December 5, 2005

I accept the blame. And you may come pick up my kids any evening at around 6:00 and take them to see the sweet little old lady’s light display. Name your beer.

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