“With the Holiday Season upon us, please take note of the following quick reminders: Please note that holiday lights must not twinkle or blink. Lights may be displayed until January 15.”
What kind of Scrooge-inhabited homeowner’s association thought up this rule? Yet there it was in a beautiful silver-framed post in the elevator at my friend’s condo, along with the additional reminders to please pick up your packages at the front desk as soon as possible and to break down your boxes before putting them in the recycle bins.
What’s the point of putting up a string of lights if they can’t twinkle?
Unfortunately, this wasn’t my first skewed holiday notice of the season. Our prolific and talented writer, Victoria Thomas, and I decided to ring in the season and split the bill for lunch at Kathleen’s last week. We each paid $27, and because it was Christmas and we had exceptional service from the wait staff, we each left a $10 tip. The next day, my bank sent me a notice.
“We realize it is the holiday season, but did you mean to leave a 37% gratuity on your recent purchase at Kathleen’s Restaurant?”
Again, what type of Scrooge algorithm generated this kind of message?
Moreover, since the bank knows my spending habits, what does that shaming message say about me and my usual gratuity percentages? Do they have me flagged as “so cheap all year” that a generous tip can only mean that my credit card was hijacked? Thanks, Wells Fargo.
And since bad news usually comes in threes, let me end rather by relating a positive New Year’s message from retiring pastor, Dr. W. Harrison Trotter at Morning Star Christian Church, who, upon seeing the Black Santa Claus displayed in Fellowship Hall, said, “There is hope for us yet.”
Happy New Year from all of us at Pasadena Media Foundation and Local News Pasadena. May all your lights twinkle.
