O Tannenbaum
The blizzard passed, winds abated, and the skies bright blue, it seemed a good day to go Christmas tree "shopping." Tho properly layered and with the spirit of the season upon me, with the temp never rising above 0F, I was gratified that I didn't have to go far to find a more than ample selection.
Wandering about in total stillness, I mused about Christmas' past, loading up the kids, getting in the car and wandering around tree farms on the outskirts of Chicago searching for that perfect tree. And much like pumpkins for carving at Halloween, I would commit as much time as necessary (to the dismay of all others involved) to find the one that was "just right."
Christmas has always been a wondrous time. Ultimately, we ended up with an annual assortment of 4 natural trees...all of different variety, in different rooms of the house, each decorated in a different motif. Decorating the house was truly a month long occupation...in retrospect, the results gratifying and the time spent well worth it. Many were the very late nights when, not a creature stirring, I moved about placing one of the hundreds of Santas collected over the years, or endlessly arranging/refreshing the boughs that adorned the furniture. I have no recollection of ever tiring of it whatsoever...rather always anticipating the day to follow as an opportunity to putter further.
Times have changed...but the memories of this marvelous season came rushing back as I evaluated the pines which spread themselves out in front of me. In truth, I now found little flaw in any of them...the severity of my judgement less extreme. But I settled on this...a Queen of the Spruce indeed...regally rising at least 40 feet into the clear, cold sky, trumpeting the season and momentarily transporting me to a different place and time. I reckon it shall be my permanent and enduring Christmas tree.
Celebration of the season has taken on a very different aspect...as it does for all of us as time moves on. I no longer need an ax and nature provides better decoration than I could ever artificially create. Yet the spirit of this special time of year endures...in mind and in heart. And on Christmas Eve, I believe I'll go and visit "my" tree for a bit and ponder those things which it, as much as any other symbol, is meant to represent...
May all of you have the opportunity to do the same...and Merry Christmas...
O Tannenbaum
The blizzard passed, winds abated, and the skies bright blue, it seemed a good day to go Christmas tree "shopping." Tho properly layered and with the spirit of the season upon me, with the temp never rising above 0F, I was gratified that I didn't have to go far to find a more than ample selection.
Wandering about in total stillness, I mused about Christmas' past, loading up the kids, getting in the car and wandering around tree farms on the outskirts of Chicago searching for that perfect tree. And much like pumpkins for carving at Halloween, I would commit as much time as necessary (to the dismay of all others involved) to find the one that was "just right."
Christmas has always been a wondrous time. Ultimately, we ended up with an annual assortment of 4 natural trees...all of different variety, in different rooms of the house, each decorated in a different motif. Decorating the house was truly a month long occupation...in retrospect, the results gratifying and the time spent well worth it. Many were the very late nights when, not a creature stirring, I moved about placing one of the hundreds of Santas collected over the years, or endlessly arranging/refreshing the boughs that adorned the furniture. I have no recollection of ever tiring of it whatsoever...rather always anticipating the day to follow as an opportunity to putter further.
Times have changed...but the memories of this marvelous season came rushing back as I evaluated the pines which spread themselves out in front of me. In truth, I now found little flaw in any of them...the severity of my judgement less extreme. But I settled on this...a Queen of the Spruce indeed...regally rising at least 40 feet into the clear, cold sky, trumpeting the season and momentarily transporting me to a different place and time. I reckon it shall be my permanent and enduring Christmas tree.
Celebration of the season has taken on a very different aspect...as it does for all of us as time moves on. I no longer need an ax and nature provides better decoration than I could ever artificially create. Yet the spirit of this special time of year endures...in mind and in heart. And on Christmas Eve, I believe I'll go and visit "my" tree for a bit and ponder those things which it, as much as any other symbol, is meant to represent...
May all of you have the opportunity to do the same...and Merry Christmas...