Ridgeway Avenue is bumper-to-bumper cars as people drive to admire Greensboro's homegrown tradition of hanging Christmas light balls high in the trees. The tradition got its start 18 years ago in Greensboro. Alison Smith North is attributed to creating the balls. Over the years, a few neighbors down the street from the Smiths, in Sunset Hills, joined in. Before long, it became somewhat expected for each homeowner to participate. Now, there is even a 5K run through the neighborhood to appreciate the decorations. The whole effort has resulted in a giant fundraiser for local food banks. 2,500 people participated in the run, which resulted in earning over $32,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank. Additionally, non-perishable food is collected in boxes throughout the season. If you live nearby, you really should drive through this Christmas wonderland. You won't be the only one. As you can see in the above photo, vehicle traffic is steady.
We cannot look at this image without thinking of a poem by North Carolina poet Zoe Kincaid Brockman (1893-1973)- published in Richard Walser's (1963) book, "Poets of North Carolina."
CHRISTMAS EVE
A pine branch is so wholesome and so sweet,
I hang a pungent wreath above my door,
(Do angels sing at midnight any more,
And are they heard above the blatant street?)
My string of colored lights is gay and new,
In my small room the tree stands straight and high,
(Is there a special star to light the sky
Whose wintry arch is tranquil and so blue?)
Dear God, there's only tinsel in my hand,
And sprigs of green and little, foolish lights,
(My heart remembers far Judean heights,
And you, I think, will see and understand).
.
I've got great big Christmas Balls... http://youtu.be/ikMoEI1hoks
Posted by: Billy Jones | Tuesday, December 24, 2013 at 11:49 AM
Great tradtion on Ridgeway DRIVE.
Posted by: Jane T. Mitchell | Sunday, December 29, 2013 at 11:48 AM