my name is Bruce Mertz and the people around here call me mr. Christmas this
around here call me mr. Christmas this
around here call me mr. Christmas this is my 31st year of putting up the lights
is my 31st year of putting up the lights
is my 31st year of putting up the lights and I’ve been living here since 1977 and
and I’ve been living here since 1977 and
and I’ve been living here since 1977 and every year I’ve start setting up at the
every year I’ve start setting up at the
every year I’ve start setting up at the end of August takes me about three
end of August takes me about three
end of August takes me about three months I just go from one thing to
months I just go from one thing to
months I just go from one thing to another thing because I know if I just
another thing because I know if I just
another thing because I know if I just do one thing a day I’m gonna get it done
do one thing a day I’m gonna get it done
do one thing a day I’m gonna get it done most of the commercial lights fade out
most of the commercial lights fade out
most of the commercial lights fade out over time so I’ve developed my own paint
over time so I’ve developed my own paint
over time so I’ve developed my own paint that does not fade the lights that abuse
that does not fade the lights that abuse
that does not fade the lights that abuse it on have lasted something like 12 13
it on have lasted something like 12 13
it on have lasted something like 12 13 years without ever fading I got to heat
years without ever fading I got to heat
years without ever fading I got to heat up the insulation so it’s pliable right
up the insulation so it’s pliable right
up the insulation so it’s pliable right now kind of stick I started with the
now kind of stick I started with the
now kind of stick I started with the string of lights around the house my
string of lights around the house my
string of lights around the house my neighbor across the street told me that
neighbor across the street told me that
neighbor across the street told me that when I moved in here he got to add
when I moved in here he got to add
when I moved in here he got to add something new every year you know that’s
something new every year you know that’s
something new every year you know that’s there that’s the what we do around here
there that’s the what we do around here
there that’s the what we do around here so over the years I’ve added something
so over the years I’ve added something
so over the years I’ve added something every year and he hasn’t had anything he
every year and he hasn’t had anything he
every year and he hasn’t had anything he still got the same string of full c9
still got the same string of full c9
still got the same string of full c9 bulbs from 40 years ago well he sits in
bulbs from 40 years ago well he sits in
bulbs from 40 years ago well he sits in the house looks at this picture window
the house looks at this picture window
the house looks at this picture window at this beautiful light display up with
at this beautiful light display up with
at this beautiful light display up with across the street so you knows how to
across the street so you knows how to
across the street so you knows how to work things you want me to brush it on
work things you want me to brush it on
work things you want me to brush it on oh you want to see this girl do a trick
oh you want to see this girl do a trick
oh you want to see this girl do a trick sure I’ll show you a trick maybe she
sure I’ll show you a trick maybe she
sure I’ll show you a trick maybe she won’t do it anymore let me see
I first met Bruce at the AJ’s born grill
I first met Bruce at the AJ’s born grill I used to play liar’s dice down there
I used to play liar’s dice down there
I used to play liar’s dice down there and the guy liked to play liars die so I
and the guy liked to play liars die so I
and the guy liked to play liars die so I met him while playing liar’s dice
met him while playing liar’s dice
met him while playing liar’s dice sitting next to mr. Christmas is a good
sitting next to mr. Christmas is a good
sitting next to mr. Christmas is a good spot I get lots of hugs
[Music]
[Music] about that buddy the first night of
about that buddy the first night of
about that buddy the first night of tournament is on Thanksgiving night it’s
tournament is on Thanksgiving night it’s
tournament is on Thanksgiving night it’s a happy holiday Christmas and happy
a happy holiday Christmas and happy
a happy holiday Christmas and happy holiday New Year’s Eve is happy holiday
holiday New Year’s Eve is happy holiday
holiday New Year’s Eve is happy holiday so I go on to the 2nd of January here we
so I go on to the 2nd of January here we
so I go on to the 2nd of January here we go
go
go when I start the lights at night I have
when I start the lights at night I have
when I start the lights at night I have the CD with the national anthem I mean
the CD with the national anthem I mean
the CD with the national anthem I mean the god Bless America so at 2 minutes
the god Bless America so at 2 minutes
the god Bless America so at 2 minutes and 10 seconds before 6 o’clock I put on
and 10 seconds before 6 o’clock I put on
and 10 seconds before 6 o’clock I put on the music
the music
the music [Music]
[Music]
[Music] and then as applause dies down I got all
and then as applause dies down I got all
and then as applause dies down I got all my timers I got 14 timers all supposed
my timers I got 14 timers all supposed
my timers I got 14 timers all supposed to kill at the same time when I go in
to kill at the same time when I go in
to kill at the same time when I go in and I have a CD with all banjos playing
and I have a CD with all banjos playing
and I have a CD with all banjos playing Christmas time tunes and that’s the
Christmas time tunes and that’s the
Christmas time tunes and that’s the start of the evening
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
and so I go out about every 15 20
and so I go out about every 15 20 minutes greet them leave for the evening
minutes greet them leave for the evening
minutes greet them leave for the evening I’ll hand off photographs to them every
I’ll hand off photographs to them every
I’ll hand off photographs to them every season now for the last four or five
season now for the last four or five
season now for the last four or five years I’ve gone through about four
years I’ve gone through about four
years I’ve gone through about four thousand photos well they usually asked
thousand photos well they usually asked
thousand photos well they usually asked about three questions that I put the
about three questions that I put the
about three questions that I put the answers to on a little label put on the
answers to on a little label put on the
answers to on a little label put on the back of a photograph what is a how many
back of a photograph what is a how many
back of a photograph what is a how many lights do you have and I said 51,000 all
lights do you have and I said 51,000 all
lights do you have and I said 51,000 all those would take you to put them up this
those would take you to put them up this
those would take you to put them up this is three months and what’s your PGD
is three months and what’s your PGD
is three months and what’s your PGD built about $700
built about $700
built about $700 [Music]
actually I have Antonio had a lot of fun
actually I have Antonio had a lot of fun watching that people on the red carpet
watching that people on the red carpet
watching that people on the red carpet especially kick yeah they have chasing
especially kick yeah they have chasing
especially kick yeah they have chasing chasing the lights back and for working
chasing the lights back and for working
chasing the lights back and for working the red carpet or else are rolling down
the red carpet or else are rolling down
the red carpet or else are rolling down the hill it is hilarious did you say can
the hill it is hilarious did you say can
the hill it is hilarious did you say can I come inside as it there’s nothing
I come inside as it there’s nothing
I come inside as it there’s nothing inside
inside
inside I mean there’s nothing that’s just you
I mean there’s nothing that’s just you
I mean there’s nothing that’s just you know my cat that’s all there my tip my
know my cat that’s all there my tip my
know my cat that’s all there my tip my cap by Trixie
cap by Trixie
cap by Trixie [Music]
his neighbors calling mr. Christmas and
his neighbors calling mr. Christmas and every night at 6:00 p.m. sharp II flips
every night at 6:00 p.m. sharp II flips
every night at 6:00 p.m. sharp II flips the switch his mind is so active it is
the switch his mind is so active it is
the switch his mind is so active it is impossible for him to stop working
impossible for him to stop working
impossible for him to stop working people in Ashman what could work where
people in Ashman what could work where
people in Ashman what could work where do you buy all this stuff I say you
do you buy all this stuff I say you
do you buy all this stuff I say you can’t buy us I build it all myself
can’t buy us I build it all myself
can’t buy us I build it all myself I wish you a Merry Christmas I wish you
I wish you a Merry Christmas I wish you
I wish you a Merry Christmas I wish you a Merry Christmas I wish you a Merry
a Merry Christmas I wish you a Merry
a Merry Christmas I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
this is a sequencer I bought for $2 at a
this is a sequencer I bought for $2 at a in 1978 these relays here are mounted on
in 1978 these relays here are mounted on
in 1978 these relays here are mounted on to fry pants that I bought from Kmart
to fry pants that I bought from Kmart
to fry pants that I bought from Kmart and I’m using for a heat sink there’s 20
and I’m using for a heat sink there’s 20
and I’m using for a heat sink there’s 20 micro switches on here each one of these
micro switches on here each one of these
micro switches on here each one of these little plastic plugs intercepts a switch
little plastic plugs intercepts a switch
little plastic plugs intercepts a switch I’ve got a program so that the lights
I’ve got a program so that the lights
I’ve got a program so that the lights chase around the house and groups within
chase around the house and groups within
chase around the house and groups within blocks of a
blocks of a
blocks of a [Music]
[Music]
[Music] I never got into lights until just a new
I never got into lights until just a new
I never got into lights until just a new girl I grew up in the South Dakota I was
girl I grew up in the South Dakota I was
girl I grew up in the South Dakota I was the youngest of ten we didn’t have
the youngest of ten we didn’t have
the youngest of ten we didn’t have electricity then on a farm and I never
electricity then on a farm and I never
electricity then on a farm and I never seen any electric lights or like that we
seen any electric lights or like that we
seen any electric lights or like that we were not necessary that rich you know
were not necessary that rich you know
were not necessary that rich you know and so brought presents were kind of few
and so brought presents were kind of few
and so brought presents were kind of few apart between their enduring Christmas I
apart between their enduring Christmas I
apart between their enduring Christmas I have a joke about South Dakota South
have a joke about South Dakota South
have a joke about South Dakota South Dakota is he ever Neverland if he ever
Dakota is he ever Neverland if he ever
Dakota is he ever Neverland if he ever believed you know we come back and I
believed you know we come back and I
believed you know we come back and I finally left to join in an Air Force the
finally left to join in an Air Force the
finally left to join in an Air Force the first time I ever rode on a train first
first time I ever rode on a train first
first time I ever rode on a train first time I rode on a bus what to Fort Warren
time I rode on a bus what to Fort Warren
time I rode on a bus what to Fort Warren Wyoming for electricians school that was
Wyoming for electricians school that was
Wyoming for electricians school that was my first experience with lights colored
my first experience with lights colored
my first experience with lights colored lights if someone come along and took
lights if someone come along and took
lights if someone come along and took their hand like that and drag all the
their hand like that and drag all the
their hand like that and drag all the wires all the way I wouldn’t know what
wires all the way I wouldn’t know what
wires all the way I wouldn’t know what to do because I have no circuit design
to do because I have no circuit design
to do because I have no circuit design here it’s all done my head turns add
here it’s all done my head turns add
here it’s all done my head turns add arms and a jury rincon my heart if I
arms and a jury rincon my heart if I
arms and a jury rincon my heart if I keep my hands off oh he’s okay
Nellie was very interested in Christmas
Nellie was very interested in Christmas she loves Christmas used to go to the
she loves Christmas used to go to the
she loves Christmas used to go to the church and tell Christmas stories she is
church and tell Christmas stories she is
church and tell Christmas stories she is so good at it when she had the kids in
so good at it when she had the kids in
so good at it when she had the kids in tears they she described everything you
tears they she described everything you
tears they she described everything you know but anyway we liked when we could
know but anyway we liked when we could
know but anyway we liked when we could be in married 10 years
it was a childhood cancer that she had
it was a childhood cancer that she had acquired but it was caught an adult she
acquired but it was caught an adult she
acquired but it was caught an adult she well she died by 18 my sector she got it
well she died by 18 my sector she got it
well she died by 18 my sector she got it got the disease and I continued to go to
got the disease and I continued to go to
got the disease and I continued to go to work and I’m retired from and retired
work and I’m retired from and retired
work and I’m retired from and retired from civil service in 94 I realized I
from civil service in 94 I realized I
from civil service in 94 I realized I had a life to live and what am I gonna
had a life to live and what am I gonna
had a life to live and what am I gonna do and I said well the best thing I can
do and I said well the best thing I can
do and I said well the best thing I can do it just do lights you know just keep
do it just do lights you know just keep
do it just do lights you know just keep on doing lights you know that way kept
on doing lights you know that way kept
on doing lights you know that way kept me busy but also allowed me to be able
me busy but also allowed me to be able
me busy but also allowed me to be able to entertain people and have them be
to entertain people and have them be
to entertain people and have them be become happy with a which in turn made
become happy with a which in turn made
become happy with a which in turn made me happy
[Music]
[Music] we had a very up-and-down emotional day
we had a very up-and-down emotional day
we had a very up-and-down emotional day last last Monday I was sitting that
last last Monday I was sitting that
last last Monday I was sitting that garage here and my friend Randy was
garage here and my friend Randy was
garage here and my friend Randy was sitting right over here next to me and
sitting right over here next to me and
sitting right over here next to me and I’m looking out the door across the
I’m looking out the door across the
I’m looking out the door across the street and I could see the garbage truck
street and I could see the garbage truck
street and I could see the garbage truck coming around the corner big garbage
coming around the corner big garbage
coming around the corner big garbage truck going about 45 mile an hour way
truck going about 45 mile an hour way
truck going about 45 mile an hour way fat when speeding this 25 this big flash
fat when speeding this 25 this big flash
fat when speeding this 25 this big flash of brown went up in the air like that
of brown went up in the air like that
of brown went up in the air like that and and killed a cat I said Randy go see
and and killed a cat I said Randy go see
and and killed a cat I said Randy go see that that’s tricks II can’t I can’t face
that that’s tricks II can’t I can’t face
that that’s tricks II can’t I can’t face it to me and I came back to the garage I
it to me and I came back to the garage I
it to me and I came back to the garage I said to Bruce I’m sorry
said to Bruce I’m sorry
said to Bruce I’m sorry so I went over there and picked up
so I went over there and picked up
so I went over there and picked up texting her brought her back put her in
texting her brought her back put her in
texting her brought her back put her in the backyard
the backyard
the backyard he took turns digging a hole cut a sheet
he took turns digging a hole cut a sheet
he took turns digging a hole cut a sheet and put Trixie in it we both had tears
and put Trixie in it we both had tears
and put Trixie in it we both had tears when I was doing this so we’ve lowered
when I was doing this so we’ve lowered
when I was doing this so we’ve lowered in the hole put the sheet over the top
in the hole put the sheet over the top
in the hole put the sheet over the top of it so I went back out here in the
of it so I went back out here in the
of it so I went back out here in the garage and sat down tears still
garage and sat down tears still
garage and sat down tears still streaming down my face and Randy was
streaming down my face and Randy was
streaming down my face and Randy was Interiors tears streaming down – and all
Interiors tears streaming down – and all
Interiors tears streaming down – and all of a sudden I look over and Trixie walks
of a sudden I look over and Trixie walks
of a sudden I look over and Trixie walks in there’s Trucy oh my god there’s
in there’s Trucy oh my god there’s
in there’s Trucy oh my god there’s Trixie I thought I was seen a ghost and
Trixie I thought I was seen a ghost and
Trixie I thought I was seen a ghost and he’s all well you get hollered out loud
he’s all well you get hollered out loud
he’s all well you get hollered out loud and when all that noise came when she
and when all that noise came when she
and when all that noise came when she just took off right we couldn’t find her
just took off right we couldn’t find her
just took off right we couldn’t find her again I thought that was unbelievable I
again I thought that was unbelievable I
again I thought that was unbelievable I don’t believe that happened Brandi said
don’t believe that happened Brandi said
don’t believe that happened Brandi said I was a look for eyes it
I was a look for eyes it
I was a look for eyes it she that’s just an apparition you didn’t
she that’s just an apparition you didn’t
she that’s just an apparition you didn’t you didn’t see it so then he finally
you didn’t see it so then he finally
you didn’t see it so then he finally found her that caught her and then I got
found her that caught her and then I got
found her that caught her and then I got to thinking oh my neighbor’s cat it
to thinking oh my neighbor’s cat it
to thinking oh my neighbor’s cat it looks just like Trixie but when I went
looks just like Trixie but when I went
looks just like Trixie but when I went out to pick up Trixie it didn’t have any
out to pick up Trixie it didn’t have any
out to pick up Trixie it didn’t have any thoughts that would be somebody else at
thoughts that would be somebody else at
thoughts that would be somebody else at the Capitol and I said Frank I said once
the Capitol and I said Frank I said once
the Capitol and I said Frank I said once you sit down they’re not dumb I says you
you sit down they’re not dumb I says you
you sit down they’re not dumb I says you know I think that
know I think that
know I think that your cat is buried on the backyard here
your cat is buried on the backyard here
your cat is buried on the backyard here he’s I don’t know how I’m gonna tell my
he’s I don’t know how I’m gonna tell my
he’s I don’t know how I’m gonna tell my wife I said well good luck I says I’m
wife I said well good luck I says I’m
wife I said well good luck I says I’m sorry I’ll tell you one thing you won’t
sorry I’ll tell you one thing you won’t
sorry I’ll tell you one thing you won’t have to do too much grieving because we
have to do too much grieving because we
have to do too much grieving because we did all the grieving for you
did all the grieving for you
did all the grieving for you [Music]
hi Santa alright see you next year
hi Santa alright see you next year hope you don’t wore out your arms waving
hope you don’t wore out your arms waving
hope you don’t wore out your arms waving at people
at people
at people there we go their goals don’t do it
there we go their goals don’t do it
there we go their goals don’t do it stay on so you got to go in and turn the
stay on so you got to go in and turn the
stay on so you got to go in and turn the rest of stuff off leave up a little bit
rest of stuff off leave up a little bit
rest of stuff off leave up a little bit okay okay if you like
okay okay if you like
okay okay if you like [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Laughter]
[Laughter]
[Laughter] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] Trixie yeah oh yeah that’s what lights
Trixie yeah oh yeah that’s what lights
Trixie yeah oh yeah that’s what lights go off and it’s rather dismal you know I
go off and it’s rather dismal you know I
go off and it’s rather dismal you know I mean I’m yeah like say we’re at all the
mean I’m yeah like say we’re at all the
mean I’m yeah like say we’re at all the fun go you know I mean and once I get
fun go you know I mean and once I get
fun go you know I mean and once I get back in the the idea that I got to take
back in the the idea that I got to take
back in the the idea that I got to take this stuff down well then it’s just a
this stuff down well then it’s just a
this stuff down well then it’s just a normal part of the cycle of Christmas
normal part of the cycle of Christmas
normal part of the cycle of Christmas New Year’s Easter
New Year’s Easter
New Year’s Easter [Music]
”
Be First to Comment