Should Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot, At Least Remember to Take Down Your Christmas Decorations Before Easter

Back in early December 2004, temperatures had climbed to an unseasonably warm 60 degrees in New York City. I can recall almost every neighbor of mine out on their front lawns, gaily hanging decorations in shorts, swimwear and white clothing. Even people who don't usually celebrate Christmas religiously, spiritually, commercially or otherwise, took advantage of the nice weather and 'decked the halls' as they say. 

Six weeks later - concurrent with the time annually when both feline and human alike refuse to go near that brown, brittle, glittery mass in the living room - temperatures had dipped to the 10 degree range. 

People began to take a 'wait and see' attitude regarding the removal of all outdoor decor: If it was sixty degrees when I put all this stuff up, surely there will come another 60 degree day when I can take it all down. For some that day would arrive in May of 2005. For others, whose decorations have been up for the last three years, that 'sixty degree day' will come either when hell freezes over or when they're 'damn good and ready!'

Fortunately, I have since devised a catch-all, 'get-out-of-jail-free' excuse for people who will inevitably find themselves in this situation at some point in the new year:

If your decorations are still up in June, you're late taking them down. Should they still be up in July, you've got a leg up on everybody else.