The Christmas Looney (December 7, 2007)

Behind Nola, the Mental Ward sign

Nola and David graduate from Santa Clause University

First Christmas with Kelly

Where the wonder of Christmas began for Nola

     It was one year in the early 1980s that the Christmas decorations in our home didn’t come down after the holidays; that was the year my husband, David, officially named me the Christmas Looney.  Two of our children had birthdays very close to Christmas, so the decorations were always up for their celebrations.  Our other two children, whose birthdays were in February, asked if we could leave the decorations up for their birthdays too.  It only seemed fair, so I agreed.  Great Grandma Gee Gee had moved in with us and her birthday was in March like mine, and David’s birthday was in April; so we decided to keep the decorations up a little longer.  In February, we added valentines to the big tree to help celebrate St. Valentine’s Day and in April, Easter decorations were added to the tree.  At that point I decided the decorations might just as well stay up year round; after all Fourth of July, Halloween and Thanksgiving were just around the corner. 

    When newcomers arrived at our house, they were usually quite startled at first to see the decorations, especially in the summer months.  But most folks got right into the spirit quickly. One of our close friends said, “If you continue to keep these decorations up year round, I may have to take you to the Looney Bin.”  Shortly after her comment, I found a sign at a yard sale that said “Mental Ward” and I hung it over the mantel, above the twenty or so stockings hung by the chimney with care.  I felt blending humor with Christmas worked out very well.

     Many of our friends asked if they could bring family members over for tours of the Christmas house.  One friend brought her granddaughter, who set out to count the trees in the house.  Her final total was 60.  She was very excited to see all the decorations. 

      Another friend wanted to write a story about our Christmas house.  The opportunity arrived in August of 1996 for a story in the paper, when our Christmas house burned to the ground.

     Our oldest daughter Kelly, who lives in Davis, took us in the first week after the fire until State Farm could settle us into a temporary location.  Kelly found a four-bedroom house on Eureka Avenue, just a block and a half from our old house, and State Farm agreed to let us live there while we waited for the house to be rebuilt.  The day we were to move in, the kids rushed over ahead of me and set up a Christmas tree in the living room, so it would feel like home.

     Diane, a friend I had worked with for fifteen years, wrote a letter to the editor of the paper asking concerned readers to donate Christmas ornaments to give us a new beginning.  Diane said, “No matter the season, arriving at the Haggerty house was always like walking into a winter wonderland.  It was the kind of place that cheered you up no matter what mood you were in.”

     After the fire friends, neighbors and even strangers wanted to help.  David said, “Diane’s request for ornaments helped people know there was something tangible they could do that would be appreciated.”  At least fifty people sent ornaments. 

     When our new house was finished in December of 1997, the builders put a huge red bow over the garage and David surprised me by inviting our co-workers and other friends to tour the new house.  We made the paper again. 

     We have focused on waterfalls in our new home rather than sixty Christmas trees.  The fire department said they had never seen such a hot fire.  Christmas decorations do burn well.  But we always have at least one or two little trees and a few other Christmas decorations year round.  If you’re feeling down, do come by to visit the modified Haggerty Christmas house any time of the year.  This Christmas Looney would love to have you stop by to share a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy a warm and wonderful feeling we can carry in our hearts throughout the year.

[Editorial Note: Truth be told, it was our friend and frequent lunch-companion John Winkworth who, in the 1970s, first applied the moniker Christmas Looney, based on Nola’s obvious enthusiasm for the season. But that was long before the Christmas tree stayed up year-round. And, yes, the Christmas tree is still up today!]