Christmas Fantasy Land (with photos)

Picture if you will, a magical holiday world full of excitement and wonder, of beautiful twinkling lights and amazing Christmas spirit. Now, stop imagining that because that's not what I'm here to talk about.
In the deep, dark woods of a rural Alabama trailer park lies a place known as Christmas Fantasy Land. The trailer park is aptly named "Shady Acres,"and therein lies a home occupied by a family named Blackmon.
Every year this family hosts a redneck feast for the eyes in the way of Christmas decorations. There you can find Santa's sleigh atop the Nativity, and a ferris wheel next to an homage to Bonnie and Clyde.  My girlfriends and I have a tradition of going to this place every year, and 2011 was no exception. It's hard to put this experience into words, but I will briefly try before showing the photos.
This year they had Snoopy and the Grinch alongside an oddly placed patriotic setup. There was an ice skating rink next to a multi-cultural display. There was a native American display near a country-line dancing scenario. (I never realized how much that group like to mingle.) To top it all off there was a stray cat that followed us around, that of all things, my son named, "Shame." Ironic considering that's what all of the adults felt for being there.
Enjoy the photos, but don't try to make sense of them. You'll get a migraine. There is also a poem at the end inspired by Twas the Night Before Christmas. It's a must read.

In all sincerity, our kids thought this place was amazing. 

Sign that displayed, "Only OR days 'till Christmas."

Not sure what this is. Possible moon landing. Possible 9-11 tribute. All I know is that they're wearing rain coats and football helmets.

Santa's Ho-Down

Because nothing says, "thank you," to the troops like free-hand acrylic paint on plywood.

My friend Mary Beth with a semi-inflated Grinch

No idea what's going on here. Pretty sure that's an igloo in the background.  Possible Middle Eastern theme going on...

My son with Shame admiring the wonderment of CFL. (You can interpret that a couple different ways.)

My friend Loren Leigh (LL) posing with the CFL newly upgraded sign. It used to be written in Sharpie on a piece of cardboard.

This was on the front porch. There are no words for this, but we were ALL photographed with it.

All aboard the Christmas Fantasy Land Express. Traveling non-stop to the WIC line. 

There was some Disney action happening here. Walt would be proud.

We also did a little Tebowing. Little did she know, MB was kneeling in dog poo. 

Ode to Christmas Fantasy Land

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through Shady Acres trailer park

Some creatures were stirring out there in the dark.

Colored lights were hung from the clothesline with care

In hopes that spectators soon would be there. 

The Blackmons were nestled all snug in their beds

While visions of meth-labs danced in their heads.

And Lori in her sweater, and LL in glitter shoes

laughed in the van while Mary Beth "tebowed" in poo.

Then out of the van there arose such a clatter

So they sprang to the window to see what was the matter.

Like a flash from the van to the front porch they flew,

and posed with our sign, "In memory of Ma-Ma. We love you."

From the steps of the porch they had quite a ball,

Then dashed away, dashed away, dashed away all.

They spoke not a word when a sign did display

In tensil and Sharpie, "God Bless the USA."

And placing their hands across their laughing mouths

They emitted chuckles heard all over the south.

They sprang back to the van and sped off in the dark

And threw up gravel all through the trailer park.

And I heard them exclaim as they drove out of sight,

"Lock the doors so we all don't get murdered tonight."