A man of many lights

So far, Rick Detter has survived. But he has a job for the next month or so that would turn many men into stuttering idiots.

He is checking every one of the nearly half-million Christmas lights that will light up Christmas Magic at Rudy County Park. Every single one. Digging through buckets for replacements, being zapped by broken bulbs.

Imagine.

Maybe it's not just a 'guy' thing, but at our house and my parents' house, more arguments were started while decorating the Christmas tree than politics, sports teams, Dad's driving or religion ever did. It was awful. Maybe that's why our house is decorated while I'm away.

But Rick Detter is coping with it. He's through a third of the 450,000 lights and still speaks coherently, doesn't shake uncontrollably and has no unexplained seizures. By now, my brain would be mush. It's just not a pleasant way to spend autumn afternoons.

I did catch Rick saying, however, "I'm like any other guy. I don't like doing this. But someone has to do it."

And thank you for your work. Christmas Magic is indeed a magical experience.

Photo taken at 1/15 second, f5.6 and 640 ISO at 17 mm, with slave strobe off camera to the left.