Tree bling chops down tradition
Maybe it’s because my youngest and last child recently married, or maybe it’s because I’m channeling my mother-in-law, who was the queen at embracing change. This December, I’ve made a monumental decision I’ve been entertaining for years but never quite gave myself permission to do so.
This year, my Christmas tree will not tell the story of my family. Our first home ornament from 1992 and that homemade glitter framed kindergarten picture of my son on the red-painted sled made out of popsicle sticks will remain in the basement. I’ve finally given myself permission to forgo the family ornaments we’ve cultivated over 40 years in favor of pure, unapologetic magnificence.
I’ve always wanted one of those catalogue-worthy Christmas trees decorated with ribbons and ornaments that coordinate in bling and sparkle. Yet, for years, I’ve placed my indulgent desires aside and remained steeped in the traditions we’ve honored for years and years. Having a large family meant we’ve cultivated many ornaments that chronicle the childhood of my children. However, ever since the Christmas debacle from several years ago when the tree literally toppled to the ground, many of those storied ornaments ended up in shards of broken glass. Perhaps that slight misfortune tempted me even more to forgo the old and succumb to catalogue wishes.
I asked my daughter-in-law to help. I knew if there was anyone who could transform the once sagging fake tree into a page-worthy display, she could do it. Colleen is one of those people who can collect bottle caps from a recycle bin and with a bit of spray paint and glue gun transform a token of trash into a coffee table treasure. She has vision and creative talent (unlike me), and I was grateful for her enthusiasm. She suggested we spend a morning perusing several dollar and non-dollar stores finding just the right red ribbon to go with just the right gold oversized ornaments.
Well, I shut that idea down from the get-go. I’m not a shopper. So we compromised and did a one-stop spending expedition to the craft store where Christmas bling stretches as far as the squinting eyes can see. Everything Christmas was 60% off. How’s that for a deal?
We laid out all the new plastic ornaments and spools of ribbon across my family room floor. I felt brilliantly prepared to work with my daughter-in-law; side by side in tandem. “OK, I’m ready,” I said. She looked at me with furrowed brows, and I continued. “I’ve been watching YouTube videos on how to decorate a tree,” I said, emboldened with holiday cheer. I clapped my hands in excitement and clapped some more. Basically, I had no idea how to even begin. Remember, for the past 40 years, I’ve been all about construction paper and glitter angels. Now I had before me a pint-sized potential Rockefeller Christmas tree, but I was clueless.
As testament to our mutual love, my daughter-in-law gave me one of those looks as if to say, “I’ve got this.” Next thing I knew, I found myself on the floor not with tree trimmings, but with my grandchildren playing cars and trains. It was a winwin. The end result was simply stunning.
The whole process left me in a bit of reflection.
I remember when my mother-in-law traded the big family tree with pine needles for a miniature pre-lit tree that sat on her coffee table. At the time, I thought she traded tradition for ease. Never, I thought, would I do that.
Yet, with a lot of help from Colleen, I realize change can be very fancy and fun.