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I don’t know about where you live, but up here in Mahoosuc Mills, seems like the minute Turkey Day was over, folks started flyin’ into Christmas! Big time! And it’s just been building ever since. We’re all scrambling to take advantage of this beautiful weather to hang lights and get our decorations up. It’s just all so festive, you can’t help but being swept up in it.

Across the street, the Phinneys put out their crèche, and it’s beautiful as ever. And Hank and Pearl Plaisted have really gone to town with them icicle lights. Ever since Hank took that header while hanging lights a few years back, they let their son-in-law do all the ladder work. Hank stays earth bound, thank goodness, and keeps busy throwin’ net lights over their shrubs. Those are a little too regular for my taste, but they do add pizzazz.

If there’s anyone ‘round here keeping the Christmas spirit alive, though, it’s Guy Charbonneau. You should see his place. Come December, it’s like the Taj Mahal! He’s got it lit night and day, energy crisis be damned! He considers it a community service.

I think Guy and his sons must start before Thanksgiving. Maybe Halloween. I mean, there’s just so much stuff!

Guy outlines his house and the garage, and the shed and the trees. And that’s just for starters! Up on the roof, he’s got Santa and his sleigh with all eight reindeer, and the whole thing’s mechanical. Santa waves, the reindeer gallop, and Rudolph’s nose blinks on and off. Down below, there’s angels perched in the shrubs or flying up above. There’s animated snowmen and women, a Victorian scene with kids skating on a pond, the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who, a crèche (life-sized, of course), Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the gang. And inflatable giant snow globes galore. It’s just amazing!

That’s not all. Last year, he started piping in Christmas carols through these speakers he strung up all over the yard. Those are playing ‘round the clock, too. Luckily, Guy lives on a country road outside of town, so there aren’t any neighbors to take issue with his Christmas cheer. I have no idea how the Charbonneaus sleep at night, what with all that singing and the yard lit up like it’s high noon.

Guy prides himself on adding something new each December. All of Mahoosuc Mills waits with bated breath. In fact, there was a pool at Charlie’s work, where the guys were betting on what it was going to be this year. No one even came close to guessing, though. Get this: an entire inflatable penguin village at the North Pole, complete with igloos. Somehow, Guy found room to squeeze it in beside Mrs. Claus, the elves and Santa’s workshop. It’s unreal!

Every year some TV station from Bangor or Portland or both come up and interview Guy. He’s quite a celebrity, come the holidays. He’s even got a back-up generator in case the power goes off. Well, with all those inflatables, it’s worth it. I mean, there’s nothing sadder than a deflated Santa.

Sometimes in the evening, Charlie and me drive over to the Charbonneaus’ place after supper and check out the show. If Guy’s effort doesn’t get you in the holiday spirit, nothing will. We park across the street and stare in wonder, like kids.

That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side! Listen to Ida's podcast.

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