Whew! The hectic holiday hubub has past! Perhaps it is only now, post-holiday, that you and I can stop to catch our collective breath and take in the wonder of the season.
Light displays are always sights to behold, and this year, Sioux Falls is no exception. Falls Park, a popular place for tourists and residents during the summer, became a winter wonderland this holiday season.
The boulevard beckons visitors with rows of lighted trees. Turning the corner into the park makes even the most jaded Scrooge gasp with delight. White lights decorate deciduous trees, evergreens hold multi-colored light strands, deer made of lights "nibble" the snow-covered lawn, and the frozen falls glimmer in a medley of changing colors. Visitors quietly follow the slippery walkways, as if afraid to break the wonderland's spell. I hear an occasional "ooh" or "aah" and see people pointing out favorite features. All the structures are festooned with lights and wreaths.
Visitors climb the tower to view the city's nightscape. In the background, the lit cathedral spires rise above the park to the west. Decorated high-rises--banks, office buildings, and hotels--stand to the east.
Lights remind us to celebrate and appreciate the beauty of each season. They give us hope that, in this darkest time of year, days will get longer. The cold temperatures will get warmer. In the meantime, all is calm, all is bright.
