Trey held Misty’s hand as they sang together, easily transitioning from popular country songs to old standards. “Joy to the World,” “The First Noel,” and “Deck the Halls” were favorites.
She could easily see a scene like this played out over a hundred years ago. Only she would be sitting in a horse-drawn wagon wearing old-time clothes—longskirt and stylish hat. She felt a deep sense of continuity, a way of passing time-honored traditions from one generation to the next. She imagined enjoying Christmas in the Country with her yet-to-be little girl. Misty knew her parents had loved being together as a family at Christmas. From now on, she would celebrate the season in their memory and carry forward this fine tradition.
As the music wound down, the ATVs came to life, the hayriders waved in farewell, and folks on the boardwalk waved back. Soon the caravan set off down Main Street, turned onto Cougar Lane, and trailed through neighborhoods as the hayriders sang Christmas carols to people who came out of houses onto their front lawns.
“Are you having fun?” Trey asked, glancing over at Misty.
“Yes! So much to do and so much fun.”
“That’s Christmas in the Country.”
“I can see why folks come here from all over.”
“One of my favorite sections of the hayride is coming up.”
“There’s more? And better?”
“Just wait and see.”
Soon Kent turned down a street and the ATVs pulling trailers with their twinkling Christmas lights and happy carolers followed, one after another, until they disappeared from Misty’s view.
“Now watch closely when I turn down that street.” Trey pointed ahead.
“Okay.” But she doubted there was anything that could top what she’d already seen in Wildcat Bluff.
As he made the turn, he slowed to a near stop, letting the caravan move on ahead without them.
“Oh, Trey! It’s gorgeous.” A large cluster of red, green, orange, and purple giant lollipops wrapped in cellophane were spotlighted by a single bright lamp at the base of the display on one side of the entrance to the street.
“Thought you’d like it.”
“Lollipop Lane.” Misty read the sign below the lollipops made with a fancy, crimson script on a bright, white board. She clapped her hands in delight.
Trey turned onto Lollipop Lane, driving at a snail’s pace behind the line of hayriders. On either side of the street in front of the sidewalks ran a long ribbon of multicolored lights that connected the lane like an undulating river with gentle twists and turns.
“Oh! I love Lollipop Lane.” Misty pulled her phone out of her pocket and snapped a few photos. She quickly texted one to Cindi Lou, knowing her BFF would love the sight, too.
Misty glanced from side to side to make sure she missed nothing along the lane. The residents had gone all out for Christmas. She’d never seen such a wide variety of decorations in such a limited area. She admired traditional red and green balls hanging from trees, an inflatable Santa Claus with reindeer, shimmering blue and white icicles stretched along a roofline with an illuminated angel on top, an electronic light show timed to Christmas music, and hand-carved and painted gingerbread folk. The creativity went on and on.
She wondered how the ribbon of light was made, so she looked closely at the ground. Folks had cut the ends off plastic gallon milk jugs and placed a colored lightbulb inside each container before laying them end to end to form a continuous line of stunning color.
She turned to Trey and smiled in happiness. “It’s all so beautiful. Everyone has gone to so much time and trouble. Thanks for bringing me here.”
“My pleasure.” He returned her smile. “I knew you’d like Lollipop Lane.”
“How long have residents been doing this?”
“Years. It’s a tradition.”
“And a wonderful one.”
As the hayriders made their way down Lollipop Lane, singing Christmas carols with gusto, residents came out of their homes to watch and listen. Families laughed, pointed at friends, and waved to the caravan. Many folks carried kids, cats, or dogs in their arms. They were all dressed in colorful holiday clothes, including most of the cats and dogs.
Misty waved back, joining in the caroling with Trey, as the line moved steadily forward. Ahead, she saw that Lollipop Lane came to an end at a cross street. She was disappointed she’d soon be leaving behind this special place.
When she felt her phone vibrate, she checked and saw a text from Cindi Lou. “Yowzer!” Misty chuckled at her friend’s response.
“Important?” Trey glanced down at Misty’s phone.
“No. I just couldn’t keep from sharing Lollipop Lane with my BFF Cindi Lou.”
“And?”
“She loved it.”
“Good.”
As the last of the ATVs pulling trailers turned off Lollipop Lane, Trey stopped his four-wheeler.
Spread out before Misty on the front lawn across the street was a large Nativity scene illuminated by floodlights. The figures were beautifully carved of wood and hand painted to look as real as possible. She felt deeply touched by the beautiful sight. And then she looked closer to make sure her eyes weren’t deceiving her.