Mittwoch, November 17, 2004

...dashing through the (non-existent) snow

“It’s the most beautiful tree we’ve ever had!” How distinctly I remember us saying that, as kids. Year after year. Until it became an inside joke. Every year became “the most” in the beautiful tree books. And tonight, my heart rejoices. For I have created my most beautiful tree ever. In my very own space. All on my own, with items out of the padded “delicate unit, handle with care” box, appropriated from the airplane parts company I used to work for.

Okay, so I broke down and got an artificial jobbie. You can’t blame me for trying though- drove all the way out to the garden center almost out of town to disappointedly find it under renovations. What I really wanted was a real one, in a pot, so I could plant it in the spring. Well, the thought was there. Reality? $8.98, from Wal-Mart, 24 inches tall, in a square shaped gold painted pot.

And I couldn’t be happier about how it turned out. Many years I endured a husband who did not partake in (except for his presents and the big meal parts) of my celebration of Christmas as I knew it. I dug the german way- the Christkindlmarkts, with their Gluehwein and freshly baked Lebkuchen, hand crafted ornaments, hundreds and hundreds of years of tradition. I miss the sights and smells of those places, wandering through the stalls all bundled up, stopping here and there to examine the wares.

It’s where I started collecting my angels. I counted 6 (and am sure there were more, at some point), and just a few gold coloured decorations- mini baubles, a strand each of little beads and stars. Our trees were never that big, corresponding to the amount of space we had in that tiny apartment. Until the year we moved to the farm! There, we had space galore, and a generous landlord who delivered a fine specimen one fine evening, freshly cut from the back 40.

How delighted I was! What a sourpuss my worst half was! He christened it that night, and it was forever known as “Scheiss Baum” from that day forth. Bloody Scrooge. Bygones!

Back to my lil tree this year. 2004. It’s got it goin' on. Cause you know what? It’s the most beautiful tree I’ve ever had. Let the season begin!

1 Kommentar:

Valancy Jane hat gesagt…

You enjoy your beautiful tree and never listen to a Scrooge again. I would send you an ornament if I could.