That most ‘Wonderful Time of the Year’ Ah … Christmas, that most wonderful time of the year: Chestnuts roasting over an open fire, snowflakes gently drifting down in the moonlight while the family sings Christmas carols by the fire. Sound like your home at Christmas? Yeah, it doesn’t sound like mine either. Mine usually goes something like this: After a month of holiday parties, we are worn out. I mean EXHAUSTED. The week before is filled with frantic last minute shopping trips because we didn’t do what we swore we’d do last year, and that’s start early. We can’t get the kids in the bed, much less get them to sleep. One says he is going to watch Sportscenter all night, and the other says he’s going to hide and catch Santa Claus in the kitchen eating the Little Debbie snack we left for him. Christmas morning is different. Everyone is happy and relaxed, and all the anxiety seemingly melts away. That is, until one son decides Santa likes the other brother better because he got more. Oh well, Christmas really is filled with wonderful memories that last a lifetime. I will always have the memory of my daddy loading us up and cruising the newly built Interstate 95 looking for a Christmas tree in the median. The tree wasn’t that wonderful, but the adventure sure was. The last thing you want to do is let insurance claims spoil your own happy memories. Here are some good ways to make sure that doesn’t happen. When shopping, make sure you keep any and all valuables
out of sight in your car. Thieves are opportunists. They will target the easiest mark they can find. This means also taking that $300 GPS off your dash and putting it out of sight. Also, keep all receipts when shopping. If you pay cash, this may be the only proof of your purchase. Park in a well-lit part of the parking lot, preferably directly under a video camera. Always be aware of your surroundings. If you don’t like the look of a group of guys hanging around your area of the parking lot, ask for an escort or wait until they leave. Christmas trees are a great source of house fires in December, and you should never buy a dry tree. They go up in flames a lot faster than moist ones. By that same token, keep your live tree moist and watered. Erect the tree close to an outlet so you don’t have to use long extension cords. Never use a string of lights with broken or frayed wires. Also, don’t use the 5,000-watt colored “big” bulbs your granddad used on the cedar tree outside his house on the tree inside yours. And always unplug the tree before you go to bed. I know you want visions of Christmas lights filling the house all night, but it’s just not safe. One of these years, we are going to have snow on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We might not have chestnuts, but marshmallows will be roasting in the fireplace at our home, and everyone will be in their beds and asleep by 8:30 p.m. under warm and thick blankets. John DuRant is the owner of DuRant Insurance and can be reached at 803-435-4800 or john@durantinsurance.com.
John DuRant
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803-854-2917
12 December 2011 • January 2012 | Lakeside
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