Christmas lights bring joy during dark time

Jeremy Vlasin gave up social media for Lent, so he was unaware of a growing trend across the country to use Christmas lights to bring some happiness during an otherwise dark time for the people and communities of the U.S.
“A few people asked me if I had seen the postings on Facebook about putting up Christmas lights during the pandemic, which I hadn’t,” said Vlasin.
Vlasin always liked how Christmas lights brought joy to people.
Ronnie and Bonnie Moritz had lived next door to the home Vlasins now live in on Grant Street. Vlasin recalled that Ronnie always hung a lot of Christmas lights every year.
“You can’t really see your own Christmas lights and enjoy them from inside your home, but seeing Ronnie’s created a memory that impacted me,” he said.
Vlasin said he thought about that reality, and it clicked for him that he wanted to “put a smile on people’s faces­—making a happy memory with the power of lights.”
He said he thought to himself how much the manor residents across the street would enjoy seeing the lights, especially since they couldn’t have visitors right now.
“That was my primary reason for putting the Christmas lights back up,” he said.
Vlasin said people might think he’s crazy, but hopes it will bring hope and joy to the manor residents and the community.
He said he doesn’t really have a time frame for taking the lights down. It will depend on what happens with COVID-19.
“I don’t know if I will leave them up all summer because storms make me nervous,” Vlasin said.
“I left them up one year and a hailstorm broke most of the lights. Putting up and taking down Christmas lights is a big job, and so is replacing broken lights.”
He added that it takes motivation to do the job, but he wants to put a smile on people’s faces so it’s worth it.
Vlasin’s roof was damaged in last year’s hailstorm, and he said the roof is going to be repaired sometime soon.
“When the roofers are ready to start their repairs, I will take the lights off the house but leave the ones on the trees. I also have some ideas to add more lights to the lawn,” he said.
“I think it would be great if others would put up Christmas lights to brighten the way things are right now—even though I know it takes some work,” said Vlasin.