A few years back, I penned a rather contentious piece expressing my disdain for inflatable lawn decorations. I made some pretty pointed comments, even going so far as to say, “Your motorized waving reindeer looks like sadness.” While my tone was meant to be humorous, I realize now that my words were insensitive and even ableist. For that, I apologize.
The backlash was swift, with many readers missing the underlying message of my critique and instead focusing on the fact that I was criticizing their beloved Disney figures. I received a wide range of reactions, from those who agreed with me to others who were less than pleased:
- “Wow, who shit in this writer’s Christmas stocking for [them] to be so damn bitter?”
- “Just let people be happy!”
- “You must be a lot of fun at holiday parties.” (I corrected my pronouns since this person misgendered me while being mad at me.)
- “This article was so unnecessarily negative that it made me want to go buy one.” (Reverse psychology at work?)
First off, thank you very much, but I am indeed a blast at parties! I still stand by my preference for strings of lights and a little more creativity in holiday decor, but I’m starting to soften my stance on inflatables. Maybe I’m becoming less stubborn or just more appreciative of joy during these strange times. When I saw those silly nylon inflatables popping up in yards for Halloween, it surprisingly brought me happiness.
Last year, as the pandemic unfolded, people hung twinkle lights to spread joy. While I eventually took them down out of frustration at the ongoing crisis, the arrival of Halloween inflatables felt like a breath of fresh air. These decorations signified that people still wanted to celebrate and infuse their lives with joy, no matter how tacky those decorations might be.
My kids have always adored these inflatable decorations, and their excitement when spotting them in the neighborhood made me reconsider my perspective. I can’t claim to be entirely free from judgment about what others choose to display in their yards, but I recognize that everyone has their own reasons for their choices. For instance, why would someone put Winnie the Pooh in a Santa hat on their lawn? It’s a little puzzling, right?
And let’s not even start on the “patriotic” Christmas Eagle or the more questionable displays featuring Santa in less-than-appropriate situations. Some decorations just border on offensive, and the nativity scenes can feel more like a boast than a genuine practice of faith.
At the end of the day, you don’t need my approval to do what makes you happy—even if I might react with some level of disdain. As long as opinions don’t infringe on others’ rights, we’re free to express ourselves. It may seem easy to slap a Santa hat on Baby Yoda and call it festive, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find some joy in it.
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Summary:
In this article, the author reflects on their previous harsh opinions about inflatable yard decorations, acknowledging personal growth and the appreciation of joy these displays can bring, especially during challenging times like the pandemic. While not fully converted, the author recognizes the happiness such decorations can inspire in others, especially children. Ultimately, everyone is free to decorate as they see fit, even if it invites a bit of judgment along the way.
Keyphrase: inflatable yard decorations
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