when I was little, we'd drive home at night and chels and I would lean back over the headrests to look out the rear window. I was taller, so I'd find the constellations first, and she'd turn her head and look for stars by the horizon. when it was cloudy in the winter we'd look out our own side and try to find all the houses with christmas lights. there was this one house, on wood street, whose entire yard was filled with plastic reindeer and electric mangers. I can't imagine what their electric bill is, dad would say, but he'd always pull over anyway. they had six-foot snowmen and elves and carolers and glowing runways with signs that said santa stop here. it was on my side of the car, so chels would slide over and we'd both look through my window and point out our favorites.
a couple years ago they sold the empty lot and the new owners built a very respectable house.
they put candles in the window, but its not the same.

ash @ 10:32 PM