The Tree

First things first…

Hope you had a very wonderful holiday season, and Dick and I wish for all of you a very joyful New Year!

I received an email a couple of weeks ago from someone planning to be in Mexico next year for Christmas, and they asked “Do we decorate a palm, or a Norfolk pine?”  I told them to do both.

However, this is the first time in our married life, that we didn’t put our tree up.  Since we went on a cruise and weren’t going to be home that much during December, we decided not to put it up.  Our tree usually takes me about 3 days to finish.  I’m just plain fussy about where each ornament hangs… that takes time to hang, see how it looks, and then possibly rehang an inch to the left or whatever, and that is after I “Oh!” and “Ah!” over each one that means something to me – and that’s most of them.  So, this year, no tree. 

But, about two weeks before we headed out, Dick walked into the kitchen hauling many, many boxes of “just a few things to put around the house”.  So, we did do that.  And I must say I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the decorations up every day before we left. 

Then, about one week before leaving, one of the boys said “Do you have your lights put up outside?  Do you need help?”  Now, they knew we weren’t putting any up – we thought.  But, undeterred, he continued, “It’s going to be pretty obvious you’re not at home if you don’t have your usually lights displayed”!  He was right.  So, out came the boxes of outdoor lights and up on the cactus and plants across the front of the house – and I have to admit, it did then look like Christmas. 

So, off we went on holiday, returning on the 20^th of December.  All the way home, we kept telling each other that it was just too late to bother putting a tree up – we both agreed.  But, the way we kept bringing it up on the way home, it was pretty apparent to both of us that the tree just may make it up. 

Imagine our surprise and joy when, the evening we finally got home late at night and walked in the front room,  there was a lovely – about 4 foot tree in a beautiful pot!  It was decorated brightly in lights and red sparkling ornaments!  Sons do wonderful things sometimes!!!

Now, I know that next year we will decorate the larger tree, but our new “love” tree will always take a place of honor – you can bet on that!

Right now, the house is ready for company to help us bring the new year in. Everyone is bringing in a dish – we’re doing Coney Dogs –  what we call hot dogs with chili – complete with shredded cheese, onions, relish and everything else you can possibly pile on a hot dog bun.  And we have the mandatory candy and salty stuff and lots to wash the food down with.   All the Christmas decorations have been stored away waiting quietly for next holiday season … but our little tree is sitting proudly in our entry way…still is shining brightly… and will probably be there for quite a while to come!

Wishing you all the best for the New Year!  Barbie, Dick and Griffy

Xmas Tree Article by Barbie