O Christmas Tree

It's that time of year again when millions of families around the globe open their doors wide and anxiously welcome none other than a tree into their home. My husband and I joke every year as we strap a tree on top of our car, haul it off the car, cut the truck to "revive" it and lug it into our family room to be hoisted up and adorned with lights and bulbs, as if we are honoring it. I mean, isn't that as funny a tradition as we have? It's pretty comical to our family, but nevertheless, we do it because we love it. Now, some of you may be saying "Buy a fake tree. Then you don't have the hassle." Oh, but then, you see, I'd REALLY be laughing because for our family, it's not really the end product of HAVING a Christmas tree that's the magic. It's the selection process...the challenge of finding that perfect tree each year. And THAT, my friends, is why we continue to put a living plant the size of a car in our home each December.

This year, the experience was just as fun. Even our little baby, (22 months old) knew that something fun was going to happen. The older two had been waiting on pins and needles for Dad to come home. As soon as he did, and we shoveled down a meal, we piled on our coats, hats, gloves, and boots and climbed into the car. We started at Wal-Mart. Our oldest son immediately knew that this place would not do. "They are too short," he exclaimed. So, we piled back up and headed off down the road to look for another Christmas tree lot.

The second one was different in the fact that they were natural trees, not farm grown trees, so they weren't that perfect triangle shape that we are all accustomed to. The girls were happy with any tree really, and found quite a nice one. But our son was more picky. He would look over each tree held up for him, study it and eventually shake his head and say, "It's not the one." So, down the road we continued.

At the third place, we were greeted by a man dressed as Santa in full beard and Bermuda shorts. He handed each of us a candy cane. Well, as luck would have it, Nicholas immediately spotted "the one", to the delight of the rest of the family as we were frozen by now. After paying the man, loading it up on the car, and tying it down, we were headed home.

Now...we have had beautiful trees before. Honest! I don't think we've ever had a tree that I think, "Man, that's an ugly tree." And this year is no exception. And not only is our tree a beautiful tree, it is the BIGGEST tree we have ever had in our home. I don't think one can really tell how big it is until you see it, so...I included a picture.



Which brings us back to the beginning. Don't you find the tradition of a Christmas tree comical? HO HO HO.