tannenbaum

We went out and got our Christmas tree today. There are parts of this tradition that stand out as incredibly special in this process. We always get a live tree. I know some people don't do this. I know that there is great argument for not getting one. I know that it is a lot of money for a tree that slowly dies (or quickly) in my living room over a month or two. I know it's pine tree genocide... I know... I know... I just can't get a plastic one. It's like drum sets. I just can't go electric. I need the wood. I need the real. This balsam fir sitting beside me smells so good right now. I can't go without it. 

We generally go to the Lion's club trailer that sits behind the bank in the center of town. The whole atmosphere there is something special to me. I love the bare lightbulbs strung up in rectangular patterns above the trees that are leaning against the wooden frames. The trailer, lit from inside. Nelson Calkins used to sit in that trailer. He owned the house that our first apartment was in. He was old then, bent and slow, but incredibly kind. That was years ago...gees... well over ten years now. Every year that we got our tree, he would be there. It was sometimes the only time we would see him during the year. He is truly a sweet old man. He is still kickin. I half expected to see him there tonight, but I know that was a bit wishful in my thinking. He is very very old now. 

We bought our tree today. It's big! It might be the biggest we have ever had. I actually had to go out and buy a new tree stand this morning. I researched it online before I sought it out. This one is a really good one. Last year our tree took a tumble. I can't have that anymore: So I went out and picked up one of the best one's I could find. It's steel... heavy.... it is made for 12 foot tall trees and our tree is probably half that. It was a total dream to use. 

It's early for us to have a tree. We generally wait till the week before, but we are much earlier than that this year. We have a family tree: the kind with ornaments from all of our childhoods. I love this. I have ornaments from my parents, ornaments made by both of my grandmothers. We have ornaments from Jenny's kindergarten classes, from Nora's and Henry's early years. It is a piece of family history displayed in our living room. 

Both kids were excited... overly actually. They ran around the house and looked at the lights. When it came time to hang the ornaments, they stepped right up and took turns. They had a bit of tough time getting to sleep... just like they should on a such a special night. 

db