*Christmas Countdown
#9 in the 10-Day Countdown: Trimming The Tree
I was bumming that we got our tree so late this year, until I talked to Sister #1 this weekend, who was amazed we had it up "so early." For all the effort that goes into it, and for the wonderful feelings it evokes, I like it up for a month. But I was traveling, etc. so we got the tree last week.
Rather than going out in the woods and cutting one down, we usually drive to the nearest Tom's Trees lot and strap one on. This year, there was a (non-Tom's) tree lot at the bottom of our street and over a little bit. I decided our tree adventure would be walking down there and carrying our chosen tree home ourselves, Henry and me. Which we did, and enjoyed. From leaving the house to having the tree up in its stand was less than a half hour. Efficient and a memory! That's my kind of Christmas experience.
It sits there awhile, beautiful in its purity, til I haul out the boxes and begin the mini-light fight. God, I hate mini-lights. And putting them on the tree, to be truthful. A few years back I unfortunately read how Martha Stewart lights her tree, and have had to follow the master's teachings ever since. This involves running a light wire up EACH BRANCH and wrapping it back down again, then moving to the very next one. There are a million branches on your normal tree lot tree. Tedious, uncomfortable, and absolutely fabulous results. The tree takes on an inner dimension, with lights twinkling throughout the branches, adding depth and magic. Pain in the butt though.
Then the next step, putting on the ornaments. No one wants to help with this, I've learned, so I do it myself, indulging in my most obsessive-compulsive design tendencies. First the breakables, then fill in with a few choice non-breakables, stepping back frequently to assess the placement and balance. Then it's done. I turn on the tree, turn out the lights, drink a winter libation and enjoy the view.
Bob waits for Santa Claws
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