Checked Off the "List" and Some Early Christmas Memories

I may have mentioned that Les and I needed to buy a new Christmas tree this year.  The trees are now out and on display in the stores around here.  We know it isn't even Halloween yet, but time moves quickly.  And to be blunt, I had no intention of waiting until the weekend after Thanksgiving to look for one.  The stock gets picked over quickly on some things and we agreed we wanted colored lights.  Those are not easy to find, seems most folks like all white lights on their trees.

We both grew up with colored lights on the trees.  I remember the reflectors that were put around each of the large bulbs to help prevent fire.  Thankfully, the cool bulbs have been invented and LED lights seem to be the norm now.

After breakfast this morning and after doing some of the morning things, we went to Lowe's.  We had a short list of things we needed and looking at trees was on the list.

Year ago - a lot of years ago - Les and I could not get through Christmas preparations without a disagreement that including shouting and tears.  This was back when we still got live trees.   He couldn't  help the shouting.  I would have shouted, too, but I come from a genetic line of criers.  We didn't plan to disagree.  It was just that the Christmas trees did not cooperate.  We'd usually be picking them out during a dark  evening.  It would be cold and depending on where we were living it would be snow and ice covered. They would not fit into or onto the car.  Then they would not fit into the tree holder. And one notable one was so crooked that when we did finally get it home and into the house, we had to tie it up to the wall to keep it from falling over.  It was still pretty, but Geez!  What an experience!

Then after Jacquie had been sick several Christmases in a row the pediatrician suggested perhaps she was allergic to the Christmas tree.  So we switched to artificial trees.  This worked out great, she felt better, and I could decorate earlier and not worry about a naked needle-less tree on Christmas or having a spontaneous combustion event.

And that brings us to this morning, let's just say we had a small discussion while standing there among the lovely trees.  Nothing major, but just a very faint hint of times past.  But we bought a tree, and we laughed about it on the way home.  It looked lovely there in the store and hopefully the one that is in the box now in the library closet will be beautiful.  I think it's going to be a lot bigger than the one it is replacing.  This might be a year when ALL the ornaments get put on the tree!

So, as always, Life is Great!  Stay safe and God Bless America!

Remember, every tree is beautiful in its own way.  😊