things i think about while powerwashing 104

Shortcut to anonymous subscriber submission link: https://forms.gle/2MABf8jNr2V8kEY87

A week or two ago, esteemed subscribers Junghyun Choy and Erin Wong joined me in a walk around Willow Glen, a neighborhood in San Jose that has some very beautiful Christmas lights. We walked down one street that seemed to be pulled straight from the board game Candyland and another that literally just had a dance area. There’s a literal giant sleigh. Fake streetcars (the ones on four wheels) slowly rolled through the residential streets filled with children and parents appreciating the holiday cheer. We walked by some residents throwing back some drinks around a bonfire in their front yard, watching the onlookers and appreciating their hard work.

They’ve been doing this almost every year, according to a blog post from archived real estate website Willow Glen Charm, since the 1950s or 60s.

But every single house had this same mysterious tree planted in the front. Each tree appears to be around the same size, with zip ties binding it to a piece of rebar staked into the ground, and wrapped with a Christmas light that ends with a white light on the tip of the tree.

At first it was a little funny, then we thought that each house literally planted one — then I thought it was a super-oppressive HOA. Thankfully, it seems to be a volunteer-led experience! I found the website that they seem to be coordinated through and found that a) it is volunteer-led with block leaders that help coordinate, b) the trees are indeed reinforced with rebar and stuck into the ground though you can also use a tree stand and c) this has been a tradition since the 80s!

A little more interesting is that people who are trying to buy houses in that Willow Glen area are saying that sellers are informing new residents about this tradition and basically are only accepting offers from people who are willing to sign an agreement to continue the tradition.

I honestly thought this was kind of restrictive at first, but if someone is looking for privacy during the holidays — they definitely shouldn’t be living in a place where hundreds if not thousands of people will be walking around looking at their neighbors. Did notice some newer looking houses without any lights though … !

Some more reading below:

• Reddit thread on the lights (Reddit)
• Organizing website (willowglentrees.com)
• History blog post (Cheer of Willow Glen)

museum of the week

Despite the EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER here in New York, esteemed subscriber Jennifer Wang and I made the trek to Long Island City's MOMA P.S. 1.

Located on a semi-triangular plot of land right next to the Court Square subway station, this MoMA branch is located inside an old public school and let me tell you I have never wanted my future kids (if at all) to not be in a city public school more than when I was in there. I've been to Alcatraz, and it's somewhat reminiscent.

But the exhibits inside made me completely forget about the school.

One of my favorite exhibits was exploring the themes of how objects held memories and had jackets made out of things from their family. Another cool one was one that had a lot of lights under a table. And another that was a gallery of photos they took during a southern Indian festival.

I think I've had some gripes against modern art in the past, but after going through P.S. 1 ... I'm coming around. I'm definitely a lot more comfortable with the abstractness of some of the pieces and willing to read the very long accompanying descriptions (which helps with enjoying them).

anonymous subscriber news

Look at all these submissions! Thanks everyone for submitting and answering the weekly question! This week, please tell us what happened during Christmas AND the weekly question is: favorite travel destination?

Submit here: https://forms.gle/2MABf8jNr2V8kEY87

weekly question responses (favorite karaoke song)

• wicked soundtrack. want to adopt cat meow
• DONT STOP BELIEVING
• answering the weekly question it has been popular from wicked for the last ten years!
• My go to karaoke song is All Star by Smash Mouth

general anon news

• anonymous subscriber said i moved
• anonymous subscriber said i cried at work a lot
• Anonymous subscriber had their aunt give them a book about being a woman in Christianity at Thanksgiving.
• Anonymous subscriber is crying on company time
• Anonymous subscriber asks should I make my own yogurt?
• Anonymous subscriber reports: Third or fourth (?) day in Taiwan and I am stuffed

animal of the week

More Simba! And regarding animal photos — please send them to my email ryan@torrtle.co. If you text them to me I will lose them. That's just how it is. Please email them to me so I can remember them. Thanks!