Icicles

This week I was reminded how much I have always loved icicles.

Winters in Idaho are serious business. It is cold, and windy, and the snow is plentiful. But my favorite things were all the icicles that hung from our roof. No two icicles were the same, and when the sunlight hit them just right, they sparkled like crystals. Oh, I loved icicles.

It’s been ages since I have lived through an Idaho winter. The past 24 years have been spent in much warmer climates. But every December, I am overcome with nostalgia. Sixty-five degrees and sunny doesn’t cut it. So I have tried to bring a little Idaho winter to my home through…lights. Specifically, ICICLES.

Many years ago, I couldn’t believe my luck when I saw them in Costco. Icicle lights?? And not the mini string icicles—I’d had those before—these were big, realistic icicles that had lights inside of them!! I put several boxes in my cart and practically ran to the checkout.

Whoop! Whoop!

I felt immediate regret on my drive home. I hadn’t bought enough! I quickly formulated a plan to line my entire roofline with icicles! My house in Texas was going to get a makeover—an Idaho winter makeover! I could hardly wait.

I went back and got more boxes. I ended up with about 8 or 9 sets of gorgeous lights.

I started the hanging process. The first step was getting the light clips all in place. Part of my roof is flat, but there are parts that are…not. I think the technical term is steep pitch roof. I like to refer to this section of my roof as—

“HOLY CRAP! This is WAY too steep and I’m going to kill myself!”

I tried walking, but kept slipping. I tried crawling, but that wasn’t much better. A friend even brought over some roof boots (yes, these are a thing and do help…a little) for me to wear.

Listen—things went south quickly.

Those beautiful icicle lights were HEAVY, and their weight plus the pitch of the roof was disastrous. I’d get one side done, and with four or five lights left to hang, the whole stupid string would come crashing down, like dominoes. And I’d be left on the roof, cursing internally.

I did this over and over again.

I WANT ICICLES!!

Frustrated and worn out, I gave up.

I went to run some errands which was a welcome distraction. As I returned home and pulled into my driveway, I saw two of my teenagers on either side of my roof, attempting to hang the icicles.

My heart stopped.

I got out of the car and told them to get down! They reassured me they were almost done…and then we all watched in horror as every string they had hung ripped off the roof in a massive cacophony of icicles.

It was right here—at that very moment—that I made a decision.

I was done hanging lights on my roof by myself. NEVER AGAIN.

I packed all those stupid icicles into a bin and shut the lid forever. I hired Eddie (he’s amazing) and never looked back.

That nostalgia still hits me every December, and I miss Idaho, the snow, and the icicles. But it passes, and I walk outside in a sweatshirt to admire the lights that Eddie puts on my roof.

And I’m grateful. ☺️