(I wrote this late December 2011. Found it. Read it. and was surprised at how this could have been written right now, in 2012 as I still feel the same way. Repeated efforts make for connecting traditions and are homespun and feel so good. Enjoy all of your doings that make your Christmas memorable and special!!)
December 2011
Each evening Terry and I usually play a fun game called Five Crowns. It's dark outside, very cold and our small house seems covered with garlands, lights, small collector houses, a tree... jam-packed with decorations from the past many years and beautiful music. We sit and enjoy our little Christmasy home. I always feel safe, snug and thankful for what we have in life at this time of the year. Christmas fading, memories still being made, and looking forward to a new year. I would wish a nice snowfall to complete my white Christmas wish!
Terry's Aunt Chum, in WA owned a Christmas tree farm, and she would ship us a gorgeous tree to AK and that went on for several years. Things evolved to a time of us hunting down our own tree. Terry and the children used to go out and try and find the perfect tree to chop down for Christmas. They all seemed to be more Charlie Brown trees in appearance but he and the boys would drill holes and fill in with branches and create a perfect tree. We were of the opinion that nothing could beat a real tree. the smell, the look and on and on. Who would ever cave in and buy an artificial tree? Not us. For sure. Yes, we whined about keeping it watered, the unevenness of the branches, the falling needles and the mess of taking it down but in the midst of the whining and droning and complaining we still would never, NEVER, consider a fake tree. Unthinkable.
We moved to WA and one year K-Mart, in Sunnyside, went out of business and all of their stock was practically give away prices. We saw an artificial, 6', pre-lit with small colored lights, indoor/outdoor tree for $5!! We bought it for the outside porch but ended up deciding to just try it one time, one year, inside the house. Truly....I fell in love with that silly tree! We still have it and for the past several years it has been outside to brighten all that drive or walk past. We upgraded to a fancier artificial tree!
My sister, in Eagle, called and had found a bargain tree that she said was beautiful, had a motorized button that extends the tree up, can be up to '7 tall and is pre-lit with 100's of small clear lights PLUS all sorts of goodies that remain in place like red poinsettias, and that sort of thing. we just overdecorate with bows, ornaments and when we can find them in the garage....a string of gold beads that go back to our early Homer days. Yes, it's overload on ornaments etc. but it's nice that we can do that sort of thing and not be breaking some sort of Christmas Rule, isn't it!?
All of this familiarity just feels so good to be surrounded by. It's loaded with memories and brings joy to our hearts. The other night we talked about the what if scenario....we can't do it? we are to tired? we are to old? it's just to much? we can't climb ladders/step stools etc. etc. That answer will come when we reach that point in our lives. In the meantime we will just keep on surrounding ourselves with things that speak Christmas to us and hopefully to those who visit during this season.
I hope you enjoyed every minute of this special time of year and reminisce these last few days.
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