"Aren't they a little droopy?"

"Aren't they a little droopy?"
"That's the way they are suppose to be," was the demonstrative, slightly annoyed response of my 19 year old daughter.

We were inspecting her handiwork on the outdoor Christmas decorations.  Our meager garage sale gathering of outdoor decorations included three strands of multicolored icicle twinkling lights.  They were pitifully strung between nails placed by a previous renter. 

"Aren't they supposed to be taunt?" I tried to ask in a truly inquisitive manner.   
"No! This is the only way they can possible be hung!  I tried to make them tighter, but it can't be done!  Besides, I like them this way."  We moved from simple installation into an artistic expression.  This was her creation, or expression of Christmas.  These lights were her crayons and she had worked hard to create this outdoor masterpiece.

"Okay! Great.  Thank you!  I am so happy to have lights up!"
 After 35 years of marriage, and rearing 6 children, I have learned, when the kids pull out the "it's art!" card, you go with it!  I smile as I remember another Christmas.  The one where I first began to let go of my neurosis for Christmas decorating perfection.  The year the Christmas tree broke.