The Annual Laugh

So, when my husband and I were married 9 years ago, I had to teach him that to properly observe Christmas, one must have a real Christmas tree.  Non of this artificial stuff that doesn't send the amazing aroma of fresh pine into the air.  I mean, that's the stuff that Christmas is; savory aromas to smell, delicious treats to taste and beautiful lights and scenes to see.  He was of course the perfect husband and complied to my every wish.  And so, we went searching for THE tree, brought it home, wedged it through our front door, and placed it in it's place of honor, right in the middle of everyday living.....the living room.

Since that time, we still get a real tree every year, BUT...we have both come to realize how truly humorous the tradition of "the Christmas tree" is.  Think about it.  You pay money to buy a cut down tree...something that was once living, and will live for a short week or two in your home, you throw it on top of your car, which normally you take great lengths to avoid coming in contact with trees with, and you bring it to your home, rearrange the entire living quarters to squeeze it in and you set it up in a little "stand" hoping it WILL stand and decorate it until you can't even really tell it was a tree to begin with.  Humorous, right??  Well, my husband and I think so.  Nevertheless, we still love to go pick out the perfect tree, now with our four children who happen to be tree picker outer experts.  Seriously!  Don't mess with them!  Last year we went to three....count em....1, 2, 3!!!...tree lots, to find THE one.

Tonight, as we heaved the 12-13 foot pine off our car, on to our backs, and into the house, (leaving a plethora of needles trailing behind us), we both smiled and laughed as we once again welcomed into our house, NAY, into the very CENTER of our house....the Christmas Tree.  (Which our children affectionately named, Pokey-pine.)