Christmas Tree Evolution

Traditionally, we put our tree up the night of Thanksgiving, but depending on the turkey coma, it might happen that weekend…but either way, it MUST occur before December 1st or else, it seems an utter waste to put so much effort into something that goes down in a few short weeks, right?  This might be one area I’m a little Type A, but its all good in the hood, because everyone puts up with it and even acts like they love my quirks of the Christmas tree kind.

But, I was reminded of mine and Bob’s first Christmas as I decorated up this years tree.  Probably because each year, we add some kind of bling to our tree that didn’t exist the year before.  And each year, new ornaments that signify each place we have visited as a couple or a family, go up as well.  This year, I tricked out the top of the tree with the trendy new “spray”  You know you’ve seen them.  All spiked up and flipped out, and just plain deliciousness as the top of the fancy trees in the stores we cannot afford to shop in.   As I started adding the various twins and spray pieces to the top, Bob gave me a few very uncertain glances, even shook his head at one point, but I was not deterred.  It was going to happen, even if it just looked like a hot mess protruding from the top…and finally, it all came together, now its just a sheer wonder I point out to everyone who comes through our doors.

But back to the first Christmas.  We were decided.  We would buy a REAL tree, enjoy the smells…we grew up with real trees.  Who needs the fakes?  So off we go to…WALMART to find our future tree resident for the next month.  We pick out the ONE, and get ready to strap it to the top of my little Tucson.  The worker gets it tied down, and Bob asks one last time…”so, this will keep it up here and it won’t fall off, right?”  Famous last words.

We arrive at my apt. complex, step out of the car, and NO TREE!  Sheer panic.  Where could it be, lying cold and alone…maybe cars are swerving around it as we speak!  We hop back in and of ALL the places, it had fallen into the median of an overpass.  AN OVERPASS!  So amidst busy Christmas shoppers driving like lunatics in their cars, we stop in the middle of an overpass to save our precious tree, somehow lug it to the top of the Tucson, tie it back down, safe and sound.  It will be a Christmas we will NEVER forget, for lots of reasons, but lets just say we decided the fake tree was the way to go the next year.   But the memory never ceases to make me smile, even giggle.

So in light of how far our trees have evolved, here is a picture of this years.  I wish I had a picture of that first tree to share, but it lives on in my memories.  Aren’t these silly moments what make up our life stories?  I hope your Christmas is filled with stories, annoyances, silliness, and plenty of giggles this season.

Bob&Treva