One of the things I've learned in 40 years as an aircraft mechanic is the value of preventive maintenance. Before I go to all the effort of putting a string of lights on the Christmas tree, I do an operational check. Maybe this is a full-blown annual inspection.*

We didn't set a record for being early in getting the tree up and decorated this year, but it's done.

*Private aircraft are required by the FAA to have an inspection each 12 calendar months, so Annual Inspection is a pretty familiar term in my world.