Christmas Navy style and Undecorating

This may give an idea of a Navy harbor at Christmas time.

Her Majesty's Ships also get into the act.

Destroyers and Cruisers really light up.

It should be as much fun to undecorate as to decorate, but it isn’t. I see beautiful Christmas decorations in pictures from your homes on the net. We drive past extensively decorated homes in each town. I have commented on decorations here in Florida. These towns have absolutely gorgeous decorations. I may find some pictures, but I doubt it. We were coming in late from Savannah a couple nights ago and driving thru Lady Lake, FL, saw their decorated public park, beautiful is the only way it can be described.
As we decorate, it seems we cannot do enough. The Christmas spirit is upon us and we feel light and happy.

The only times I used to think ahead was right after Christmas when I thought to buy the lights to store for next year. Once I was disappointed, it was during a time outside decorations were starting to be big. I bought a ‘load’ of outdoor lights planning to do it up big next year. They were never unwrapped or used. The next year was the energy crisis when everyone was asked to scale back. Bah, humbug. I finally sold them for nothing at a big Yard sale.

If you have never been to a US Naval Base at Christmas, you have missed a Christmas treat. The ships decorate and look beautiful (As above)reflecting in the water. The first time I saw it was when I joined the Navy and was sent to Norfolk three days after Christmas. The base was still decorated. I was amazed and proud to be a part of the USN. I remember the Carrier tied up at pier 12. Never realizing that would soon be my home. I saw a small diesel sub at the ‘D& S’ piers. They had the ‘island’ made up like a chimney with a giant Santa climbing down.

BUT once decorated, it must be ‘un’ decorated. Ours stay up until just after the first. WE are so downsized it only takes a matter of minutes to take down and store in the Ceramic tree. (The other decorations go inside the ceramic tree.) So enjoy the decorations. Put them up so they will be easy to get to. You will be unpacking them sooner than you realize. It is only 362 days ‘til Christmas.
Thanks for coming this way.
Nite Shipslog
PS:
Things you just don’t hear much anymore:
You have worn the knees out of that pair of pants shooting marbles there is nothing left to put a patch on.

Don't you go outside with your school clothes on!

Go comb your hair; it looks like a rat’s nest.

Be sure and pour the cream off the top of the milk when you take the stopper out of the bottle.