A Christmas tree tale

The calendar still reads December — there is still time for one more Christmas story and here it is.

The Christmas tree is my favorite decoration at Christmas. I always wait until after Christmas Day has come and gone. The celebrations, the busyness and frenzy, entertainment, all of that keeps you so busy that there doesn’t seem to be time for just enjoying it all until it is all over. That’s the time I can sit quietly and enjoy my Christmas tree. But this year was different, very different.

We always have a fresh tree and for all my years I have always been the person to pick it out along with my parents. Last year was the first time I couldn’t go and do it. I trusted one of my close relatives after careful instruction to do that and it was fine. He followed directions completely. So this year I enlisted the aid of another relative with the same task and instructions. All was complete, the tree was put safely in the barn far in advance awaiting to trim it. This was one of several mistakes. When the barn door was opened to bring in the tree, guess what? Yes, NO TREE. Our tree is generally trimmed about the day before Christmas Day. What had happened? Communication with the tree lot was that there weren’t any more trees (they were closing up) and the person who was supposed to deliver the tree wasn’t about to be found.

The only answer was to try buying an artificial one, something we had never had. The answer was to get on the computer and purchase one. Not to worry, it would be here the next two-three days if we paid extra for fast express. It arrived. We set about getting it out of the box. It happened that we had decided to have a small tree for this year. Out of the box came a “Charlie Brown” Christmas tree. For those not familiar with that tree, best you don’t know and not find out. It wasn’t what we ordered but it was what we got!

There are pluses. I didn’t have to get down all the boxes of trimmings for the tree. Lights came on the tree so there was no unspeakable language when stringing the lights. There wasn’t enough room for more than several ornaments to hang on the few branches available and we had to hunt around the house looking for a suitable stand to place it in that would peek above the window sill for anyone to see in the window. There will not be much space to put gifts under it which will be another plus, I guess as there will be plenty of space around it.

Well, we have survived and have learned several lessons. After “living” with it for a week or more days we all decided after the initial shock and disappointment that it did become a “cute” little tree that was trying to help us enjoy it with its own personality.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!