Early Thoughts on the Ladder and its Possibilities
For the last nine years, we’ve only shared the ladder with friends and family. But this year I posted pictures on my Facebook page and they elicited quite a response. One friend even suggested the story was worthy of a children’s book. When that motion was instantly seconded it seemed that I should at least make the effort to give the ladder a fair shot at telling its story. However, since the ladder can’t really communicate, it will need the help of me and others willing to participate. It now has a fan page on Facebook, the very beginning of a book, some early efforts at a series of photographs taking the ladder (virtually, anyway) around the world. On a napkin I left lying around somewhere are ideas for a digital holiday card, an art installation, a viral video (no concept yet; feel free to suggest one) and an interactive art project for little kids. I was also thinking that in the spirit of social networking and the web that you might want to participate, too. You can do that by becoming a fan on Facebook, erecting your own Christmas ladder and sending in pictures, or leaving your comments and suggestions here. Small possibility that the Boston Globe will do a little something tomorrow. But only if it’s a slow news day.
The True Story of the Christmas Ladder
When my daughter was three, my wife and I put up our very first family Christmas tree. A week later, on Christmas Eve, she had a severe asthma episode and in the middle of the night we realized it was an allergy to the tree. (Turns out an invisible mold grows naturally on any cut tree.) We hastily took off the ornaments and shuffled the tree out the front door.
On Christmas morning we woke to a pile of ornaments and lights on the floor where the Christmas tree had stood the night before. There weren’t many options. Then it hit me. There was an old step ladder in the hall closet. We dragged it out, wrapped it with lights and placed ornaments on all the steps. A Christmas Ladder. Shiny and silvery and a perfect complement to the white lights and bright decorations that adorned it.
That was nine years ago. We’ve had a Christmas Ladder ever since. It’s functional, beautiful, easy, and in this day and age, it’s incredibly green and environmentally correct. Everyone should have one.
(Note: Since our original Christmas Ladder, we have wisely learned that if you use an aluminum ladder DON’T drape it with lights. Aluminum conducts electricity. Use projected lights or tinsel instead. If you want traditional lights, you’re better off with a wooden or fiberglass ladder.)
