Post by truckertom on Dec 16, 2005 23:41:39 GMT -5
The T.C.U. House
Every holiday season, our family drives around town seeing the Christmas lights. In the cold of December, we pile into a 1993 Chevy van that has 230,000 miles on it, with our hot cocoa, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and a variety of eats that are sweet and sure to bring a look of disapproval to the face of any nutritionist.
In our "old before it's time" vehicle, we tour the city looking for the best display of Christmas lights and many times drive into alot of rich neighborhoods. One truly beautiful decoration is the "T.C.U house". Their theme is Texas Christian University and they must have a special agreement with the electric company; the house has so many Christmas lights, I swear it gives off heat! This is one of those old, glorious homes built back in a day when everyone was rich (HA!), and needed a mansion. Back when houses were built one at a time, and a "track home" was a term no one was familiar with. It is the kind of home I would choose to live in if I could afford it. Keep the "new" home with all of its energy efficient building codes; they have all the personality of a cheap Korean guitar. Give me the older home with its creak in the hardwood floors. New carpet? Forget it. That would be like playing baseball on Astroturf. It's like the new craze in this part of the country; brick exterior! I like the old, friendly wood sided houses. They seem to say, "Everyone is welcome here". I guess this is the attraction of the "T.C.U. house"; it looks friendly.
There seems to be an old fashion pride at the "T.C.U. house". I know these Christmas decorations must be a lot of trouble to go through, but every December it is a tradition and trouble they go through willingly just to make others happy. When a line of cars file past your home every year, year after year, year in and year out, this is a tradition that can't be stopped. It is like the bonfire at Texas A&M; it would mean defeat if it didn't continue.
So when poor folks like myself that live in a shack see glory on earth in the form of a mansion in Fort Worth Texas, lit up like a Christmas tree, it gives hope to me. It makes me understand that there are wealthy people that "put on the dog" as it's called, simply to spread good cheer to others.
I for one will always appreciate the "T.C.U. house".
Every holiday season, our family drives around town seeing the Christmas lights. In the cold of December, we pile into a 1993 Chevy van that has 230,000 miles on it, with our hot cocoa, Krispy Kreme doughnuts and a variety of eats that are sweet and sure to bring a look of disapproval to the face of any nutritionist.
In our "old before it's time" vehicle, we tour the city looking for the best display of Christmas lights and many times drive into alot of rich neighborhoods. One truly beautiful decoration is the "T.C.U house". Their theme is Texas Christian University and they must have a special agreement with the electric company; the house has so many Christmas lights, I swear it gives off heat! This is one of those old, glorious homes built back in a day when everyone was rich (HA!), and needed a mansion. Back when houses were built one at a time, and a "track home" was a term no one was familiar with. It is the kind of home I would choose to live in if I could afford it. Keep the "new" home with all of its energy efficient building codes; they have all the personality of a cheap Korean guitar. Give me the older home with its creak in the hardwood floors. New carpet? Forget it. That would be like playing baseball on Astroturf. It's like the new craze in this part of the country; brick exterior! I like the old, friendly wood sided houses. They seem to say, "Everyone is welcome here". I guess this is the attraction of the "T.C.U. house"; it looks friendly.
There seems to be an old fashion pride at the "T.C.U. house". I know these Christmas decorations must be a lot of trouble to go through, but every December it is a tradition and trouble they go through willingly just to make others happy. When a line of cars file past your home every year, year after year, year in and year out, this is a tradition that can't be stopped. It is like the bonfire at Texas A&M; it would mean defeat if it didn't continue.
So when poor folks like myself that live in a shack see glory on earth in the form of a mansion in Fort Worth Texas, lit up like a Christmas tree, it gives hope to me. It makes me understand that there are wealthy people that "put on the dog" as it's called, simply to spread good cheer to others.
I for one will always appreciate the "T.C.U. house".