We have lived at our house on South Kenilworth for 26 years. I enjoy, as my husband would say, tricking out my house for every major or minor holiday. Think the only thing I don’t have stuff for is Groundhog Day. The neighbors tease me that they would not know what season it was if I didn’t have my wind kites out.
For the past three years or so, I have had so much stolen off my porch. Day after St. Pat’s, wreath and all wind kites gone. Last year, Christmas wreath and poinsettias … gone. Cleaned my walks of snow one day last year and left my North Face gloves on the porch … they were gone, as was my snow shovel. Last summer, pillows gone from my porch bench, as was a mosaic coffee table. Table only cost me $5 at the Economy Shop, but I did spend all day gluing back the mosaic tiles. Bummer …
Halloween! I now only put stuff out just before trick-or-trick hours start. As soon as they are over, turn off the lights and whip everything inside. Year before last, someone cleaned me out of everything that was not nailed down!
Thought I skated this Christmas. Not. Wreath safe on the door, but I did put two metal Christmas stockings on the porch railings. Gone. They were rather … uh … K … tacky. Got them at Costco years ago, but I liked them and they cannot be replaced. Alas. Did not put any of my beloved Christmas wind kites up …
Nothing gone worth calling the Oak Park police about. No fingerprints or DNA. But, my decorating days are over! Maybe my neighbors would be happy about that. Hmmm …
Lesley Keeley
Oak Park