Does My Not Lighting Up at Christmas Make Me Less of a Ho?

During this time of year thousands of people suffer from S.A. D (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), also known as winter depression, is an affective, or mood disorder. Most SAD sufferers experience normal mental health throughout most of the year, but experience depressive symptoms in the winter or summer. Luckily, there are support groups for sufferers as well as several effective treatments to cure the symptoms.

From Thanksgiving to Christmas I, on the other hand, suffer form S.L.D. (Seasonal Lighting Disorder).


Seasonal Lighting Disorder (SLD), also known as grinchism is a chronic aversion to stringing any form of outdoor lighting on residential structures during the holiday season. There is reason to suspect that most S.L.D. sufferers do not experience normal mental health the rest of the year either. Because people of good cheer find them offensive and depressing, there are no known support groups for these poor depraved souls and no known cure.

I was struck by the late onset of S.L.D. immediately after separating from my husband. Up until that point in my life, decorating my home with lavish good cheer had been the norm. I take no credit for this personally, as it was a direct result of my being surrounded by demanding family members who forced me to do it. God bless them one and all!

When I first moved into my single woman nest four years ago, my incredible neighbor friends, Bart and Lulu, could not help but notice the cheer sucking darkness of my home during the holiday season. They assumed that I was either Jewish (best case), too cheap to pay for the electricity or simply strange. Being people of good cheer and amazingly tolerant of strange women, they befriended me anyway.

Time takes its toll on all of us. They were no exception. Two days ago I ventured out my front door to witness Bart erecting a wire Santa sleigh, complete with the desired reindeer accessory, on my front lawn. “Merry Christmas” he sang out to me.

So this year my grinch of Christmas past has been covered in beautiful white lights and harnessed to Santa’s sleigh. My SLD has been effectively treated – by the kindness of a neighbor.

Thanks to his act of unbridled generosity, I guess I am now more of a Ho than ever. Does he have any idea of what he has done? I doubt it. But, as the angels protect the pure of heart, he will be just fine.

So to my BF’s (blogger friends) I just have this to say,

“Merry Christmas to you all and to you all a good night”

Till next time.

Susan, Shabby Chic