This
tree would have seen sixteen (16) Christmases at our country casa…BUT it was
given away two days ago. Sniff. Sniff.
A
friend of ours, who was fantastic at interior decorating and who owned a gift
store in the college town near us (he also owned a lovely/delicious restaurant
for about six or seven years…), bought this tree for us, on our behalf, for our
first Christmas in our new home. We’d moved in at the very end of November—from
our Barn Apartment. Things were chaotic, of course. We needed a tree that was
at least 9-feet tall—for our 14-foot Great Room ceiling. He found it—at a good
price. Purchased some “lodge-y” decorations for us. And then put it up and
decorated it, too! For the next four years, he came and decorated our tree and
home for Christmas. Right after Thanksgiving. He did this for many of his
friends and as a money-maker.
After
five or so years, My Sweet Hubby (MSH) and I decided that was an extravagance
we could forego. We went back to doing the Christmas decorating ourselves. Sigh.
(It was sure lovely—feeling special, fancy and, well, almost ROYAL—all those
years.)
Then
six-ish years ago, MSH started complaining about this tree. Loudly and
non-stop. We’d made a mistake when we put in our front door. It’s a double
door—but only one side opens. Dragging this tree in through the door that
opened started messing up the lights. When MSH plugged it in? Half the lights
would not be working. He’d commence a 2-4 hour process of trying to find which
dadgum lights had gotten loose and were messing 2/3rds of the tree up. Often times, he'd be forced to make a run to Hellmart, which is over 20 miles, one way, from our home. Sheesh. (Not the word he usually said.)
He
started a campaign I called his “Please, Dear Lord, AND ELC, Let Us Purchase A New Tree” Campaign. Being the tightwad (about some things) I
am, I would say, sweetly:
ELC: Now, listen, MSH. We don’t need to spend the
money on a new tree. I understand it takes you a while to get the lights going,
but you always do. And, think about it: A new tree will likely have the same
problems.
MSH: That’s not a certainty. We had no problems with
the tree lights for the first nine or so years. I can’t stand this job. It
takes a toll on my Christmas Spirit.
ELC: Well, let’s discuss it next year, 'kay?
Yep.
We'd have that discussion. I’d hang tough and say, with determination: Not this year. Let’s discuss it next year. Winky.
Wink.
A
couple of weeks ago, as we planned our “Tree Lighting Ceremony,” MSH began his
annual campaign. This time, I didn’t have the energy to argue/plead/threaten. I
gave in. My rules? The tree had to be smaller. No more than 7 feet tall. It had
to be on sale. It had to be—in all likelihood—the last we’d buy. I was
confident he’d have NO issues with these demands. He didn’t.
We
found this tree at a Hobby Lobby in Fort Worth
I’m
gifting TLC and Little Leighton the small tree we bought the year of the Sandy Hook murders. If y’all have been with us since that
time, you might remember I couldn’t find my Christmas spirit. It was just too
horrible/sad/devastating. I bought a little 4-foot lighted tree and put it on a
table in front of our bookshelf. I had an ornament for each of the children and
the adults (except for the adult psychotic killer and, yes, I should have found
a way to forgive him…unfortunately, I still don’t think I’m there yet…) that
had perished that horrific day. It’s a very sweet tree. Multi-colored lights.
I’ve kept most of the ornaments and have put them on our new tree. Little
Leighton (and soon to be born Baby Leighton) will be able to have a tree in her/their
upstairs playroom. She/they can decorate it with some of TLC’s ornaments she
had when she was a small tot. I’m hoping to take it to them this week. I'll be tres anxious to see it! (TLC is the Quintessential Lover of All Things Christmas! At some point, I see some rebellion from Her Hubby on the horizon. She even wears me out.)
MSH
and I have scaled down, significantly, from our past efforts to mega-decorate
our home. We feel the need for SIMPLE. (This is where we are—MSH and me—in total
sync, being in the “Golden Years” of our lives. Less is more.) TLC will be
receiving some Santas, including a Santa Nutcracker, and other decorations
she’s had her eyes on for a few years. She’ll even inherit the plastic storage
tub for it all—I won’t need it. YIPPEE!!!
This year, on January 1st or 2nd, it shouldn’t take me two days (as it always has in the past) to disassemble my Christmas hoop-la! Trust me: that will make this ELC/Wife/Mom/Grammy VERY VERY VERY Happy.
Y’all have a WONDERFUL Week…PLEASE...Wherever in the World you are!
ta-ta for now…
