That’s what it’s called.  Even though it is actually a visualization of death.  See, each light on this tree represents a life lost on a North Carolina road in the past year.  Those who died in an alcohol-related fatality are represented by red lights.  This tree has 1453 lights and 440 red lights.

This tree with its tragic lights is on the grounds of the capitol each December.  And each year our family stops and looks and reads the numbers and feels the sadness and thinks about the people and the families behind each lightbulb.   It’s powerful.

Tree of Life

Raleigh is decked out in holiday finery and ready for company.

The weekend of December 12-13 was a big one in the Downtown Raleigh area featuring beautiful holiday decorations and live music by local performers.  There was the annual Historic Oakwood Candlelight Tour, the holiday open house at the Governor’s Mansion, and the holiday open house at the N.C. Capitol Building.

The elaborate decorations at the Governor’s Mansion take six months of planning, and it takes 15 people four days to put them up!  One of the Christmas trees is a tree decorated with items special to North Carolina and its people.  It’s covered in dogwood flowers, pine cones, cardinals, seashells, acorns, and sanddollars.  Another special tree is decorated with more than 650 ornaments made by the sons and daughters of N.C. military service personnel.

Walking around and taking in the sights this time of year is always a satisfying family activity.  And a chill in the air just seems to add the finishing touch.

That’s Life in Raleigh.

N.C. Governor's Mansion December 2009

N.C. Capitol December 2009