Oh, Christmas Tree

Oh! Christmas Tree

   Once again it is the Christmas season.  Glad tidings and good will to all is our mantra this month.  During the last four weeks of the year peace is to fill this land, seep into our hearts and carry us throughout the upcoming year.  After all, isn’t that what the advertising executives tell us should happen!  It is a time of family togetherness.  Shopping, baking, wrapping and decorating are all on the “to do” list. Traditions and decorations abound.

 Life has a way of creeping up on us and reconfiguring your life at a faster pace than you can embrace it. Today, for the first time in nineteen or so years my husband I decorated the Christmas tree by ourselves.  Our daughter will be twenty one this spring and is currently studying at a College out of state.  Our son who is fifteen was awaiting a video stream that was so very important to him to see.  That meant that neither of our children was available to participate in the annual family Christmas decorating festivities. However, our son did take pity on his old Mom and assisted with the ceremonial passing of the boxes and plastic bins from the attic. He did do the heavy lifting so to speak!

 Our tree is an artificial one that I garnered over twenty five years ago from my first job out of College.  I worked for a company that manufactured artificial Christmas trees.  At the time, I was fortunate to acquire a tree from one of the top selling lines.  Through the years it has served us very well, however these past few years she is showing her age….I guess, she is much like me!  So today, once again my husband and I set up the only Christmas tree that our children have opened their presents around on every Christmas morning of their lives.

    It was odd.  It was quiet. It was a full circle moment.  I was transported back to our first Christmas together.  We had decorated the Christmas tree with much anticipation of the joy of the season and in hope of what our future may hold.  

  Today, as we unpacked each box of tree ornaments the layers of our lives unfolded before us.  Unlike our first years together, our lives were now weaved together in a tapestry that told our family story. Each box we opened  contained Christmas tree ornaments that told a story, sparked a memory, reminded us of a loved one,  contained some magic and held a history all of their own.  Our Christmas tree is decorated with basketballs and ballerinas for our daughter.  Tigger from Winnie the Pooh reminds us of our son.  He would bounce around the house just like Tigger when he was little and there are many ornaments to prove it!

 Our tree also has a few mauve Christmas bulbs with gray writing that announced our marriage that took place in October of 1988.   Since I worked for a company that manufactured Christmas trees and ornaments I thought this would make a perfect wedding favor.  The mauve color matched the bridesmaid’s dresses and the groomsmen’s cumber buns. The gray also matched the color of the groomsmen’s tuxedos.  Each year we hang this ornament on our tree and I know that so many family members and friends do the same. For sure, the past twenty three years our Christmas tree has displayed this same announcement and message.

We have handmade ornaments from pre-school projects. 

There are the loving handmade notes from a young girl presented to her parents a Christmas several years ago.

It contains a few of my Grandmothers glass ornaments that we gingerly place upon the branches each year.  I have one of my Grandmother’s golden pinecones that doubled as hand grenade during the war years for my Dad and his brother.  Each of these wonderful items and memories bind one generation to the next.

 I have seen the Christmas trees that contain uniform decorations. The ribbons, bows and icicles are color coordinated.  Each component resides in their predetermined location. These trees are truly elegant and breathtaking.  As beautiful they are, to me, they are missing something.  Personality. Uniform is the last word you would use to describe our family Christmas tree. 

 So, this year after our tree was filled with ornaments and lights I retreated to my room and removed the bubble wrap from a treasure.  It was a Christmas ornament that I purchased  in September while I was in Sedona Arizona.  It is a small, elegant angel adorned in purple. She reminds me of what I discovered within those red rocks….bliss!

  As I placed the ornament upon the tree branch I knew that this too has become a part of our family story, more importantly, my story.  I believe that many years from now, one of my children will be gingerly placing this angel on a branch of their family Christmas tree.  As they do, they will be reminded of the time many years ago when their Mother gave herself a gift.   It was a gift of peacfulness and discovery in a place of amazing beauty. 

  And so I wish this same feeling of freedom and bliss for my children, my family and my friends!  During this Christmas season may you be reminded of the joy in your life. May it always hold a place in your heart.