GAY WASSALL-KELLY -- Notebook

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Last year, Gay Wassall-Kelly and her husband, Bill,

won the Sweepstakes Award in the Ring of Lights competition, which honors

the Newport residents along the waterfront boat parade route with the

best light display. “In The Wings” will return next week.

“You can never overdecorate,” the serving platter that our friends and

neighbors gave us last year says.

So true.

When the judges knocked on the door and said “You won,” we screamed

and yelled. “But that’s not all,” they chuckled. “You won the Sweepstakes

Award.”

We got louder, jumped up and down and hugged everyone.

Little did they know we had been living in the dark for about a week

because if we turned on a lamp while the lights on the dock were on, the

whole side of the house went dark. And no having the microwave and the

dishwasher on at the same time or the other side of the house would

flicker and go black.

Yikes! Now that we won the Sweepstakes, what are we going to do, we

thought.

Bill yelled, “Hawaii!”

Oh, that’s what he thinks.

A few days later he said, “I’ll call the electrician and we can put

another 50 watts in for next year.”

Yippee!

Ideas? More lights? We don’t tell many people this, but we don’t go to

Fashion Island or South Coast Plaza the day after Christmas. We are at

the lighting stores, looking for more holiday illumination on sale.

We have yard art -- Santas, soldiers and angels. Please let a new idea

come our way.

Lo and behold, a huge 7-foot snowman appeared in our yard with a note,

“Thought you might like him for next year.”

Next, a phone call. “Gay, you have got to over to Tuesday Morning and

see the Christmas lights they have there.”

Not exceeding the speed limit, I found the green lighted swags with

red illuminated bows. This is it!

I bought the four packages they had, called my daughters, who bought

another six sets, and had friends in Ventura buy another five. Of course,

I also sneaked in buying a few animated things for our windows.

We’re getting there.

Just a few days ago, we plugged in the last string of lights after

three weeks of stretching, straining and ladder wiggling. Our 200-amp

service will be in by next year. Watch out Newport.

At least this year we can turn on the television, microwave and a

coffee pot all at the same time.

We look around the bay, lights dancing off the waters, and appreciate

that everyone else has gone through the same crazy fun. We thank them for

their spirited efforts.

* GAY WASSALL-KELLY is the editor of a Balboa newspaper and is active

in the community. Her home, on East Edgewater, can be seen along the boat

parade route. It’s the one with all the lights.