Thanks for the outpouring of concern for my mental health following my recent Christmas Decor Breakdown on Facebook.
The essays have been graded and I’m now just the normal amount of behind in my grading, so here’s an update:
Q: Why are my new Warm White indoor lights so yellow even though the same brand/colour outside looks just fine?
A: I did a side by side comparison to make sure. They were definitely not the same colour. Even the Cdn Tire Customer Service person was surprised.
Q: Didn’t I have a similar neurotic episode last Christmas?
A: Yes. But my mother agreed these lights were too yellow, so I’m justified in my angst.
Q: Is Christmas light nerosis a sign of an underlying issue or just another form of procrastinating?
A: No, and yes.
Q: Will the new lights look different when the essays are graded?
A: No. I left them up long enough to test this theory. The tipping point was a day where my back was so sore I was lying on the floor beside the neon yellow lights. I tested the waters by pulling at the lowest rung of lights and found it so satisfying to see them gone.
Q: Will Cdn Tire take them back without a receipt? If I don’t at least try to return them, will I always wonder? How many years will these new lights be in my life?
A: You know when you smell something on your hands and you can’t stop smelling your hands? Removing the lights and trying to return them was necessary to my sanity. My success at Cdn Tire was most likely due to a) going at a time when there was no line
b) having scanned my points app and having proof of the day of purchase to make finding my purchase easier c) an employee who was also surprised that two matching brands/labels would also not produce matching lights. Though.. the pictures do suggest the colour might be different. “They don’t match. Of course you want to return them.” I have never felt so validated by a stranger.
Q: Why didn’t I just keep using my old perfect white lights?
A: Yes. Newer is not always better. I wanted more lights so I didn’t have to be so strategic when hanging them. The old ones are back on the tree. Don’t examine the wall side too closely.
Q: Will my husband forgive me if I ignore his advice and take them down?
A: Yes, though I know my Stability Index has dropped. However, since the success of HRT, I can sustain an increase in Crazytown Vibes without a substantial risk to my overall Happy Wife/Life Vibe.
Q: …if I do get new ones, will they be wrong in some other way, pointing out the truth: the problem is me?
A: Most likely. I will use my old lights until they start a fire and use my store credit for oil filters and hot tub supplies.
