Article 1008

By now I am sure all of you have your Christmas tree up and decorations everywhere!

Of course old TG has really been lazy about that these last few years. I would drag around and crawl up in the attic and pull the old boxes down and say to myself, “I am getting too old for this”. The Hubby was always worrying I would fall on the steps to the attic and of course, in the back of his mind, he was afraid I would break something. And as I have mentioned in this little column to you, he is not much of a “care giver”! He is good at some things as you well know, but TELLING ME WHAT TO DO is his best trick.

Well, last year I decided I would cut down on some of my decorations and really do away with some of the things that were getting a little worn. You know those things that your grandchildren made in the first grade and now they are in college! But you know I just couldn’t do it. Last year I decided I would store them in the garage so I could get to them and the Hubby and I would not have words before I even got the Christmas Spirit! Of course, I had to move some of his precious tools over to make room but really who needs a whole garage to yourself?

So this year, out came the boxes and all the memories came flooding out. I got a few big tears in my eyes remembering all the fun things we did that year that that particular ornament was purchased. Most of them came from my little church bazaar and they had been made by friends who had were long past. Some hung on the tree when I was a child and of course the precious ones from my grandchildren.

There was this pink pig that a friend had made of pink felt with green leaves and pink beads all over it. Now who really has a pink pig on their Christmas tree these days? It is so sad, we purchase a tree, spray it all colors, light it up with lights and sit back and say, isn’t it beautiful? Well, you won’t believe this but I had a “Charlie Brown Tree” for years. You see we always took our vacation to come home at Christmas. Yep, old Tulip Green lived many places during her life time and the Hubby was always scared the house would burn down while we were gone if it had lights on it. So every year, I would go out in the nearest woods and cut a tree with lots of branches and we would try to cover it with all kinds of decorations. And on our many travels through life, instead of souvenirs I would purchase something to put on the tree to remind us of that great state. So you can imagine how many decorations I had.

Well, old TG broke down last year I purchased a small artificial tree! The memory of the Charlie Brown Tree was put on the back burner with all the other Christmas tales I could tell you and everyone who came by said, “WHAT IS GOING ON, WHERE IS THE CHARLIE BROWN TREE?” It made me sad but as I said before, we must move on. I decorated a tree out by my road with lights and red bulbs and that is the new version of THE CHARLIE BROWN TREE! It even blinks off and on. My neighbor said, “Man you are really up town now”. A tree that lights up.

Last year you won’t believe it but the first thing the Hubby said, after Christmas was, “what on earth” are you going to do with this little tree?” Where are we going to put it? Well, I just showed him. I took the biggest leaf bag I had and sat it down in it and then pulled another one down over it and just pulled the draw string up in the middle and said, “Here you are” wasn’t that simple. He is always trying to make something complicated.

This year, I must tell you that I just took the tree out of the bag; the pink pig is still on my tree. The little white sheep that my friend who did not do crafts very well was given back to her sister. You see she is in heaven now and her sister was really glad to get it. With a tear in her eyes, she said it would go on her tree. The things made by the grandchildren were put in the “memory trunk” for the great grandchildren and future celebrations to come. And I must say, my little artificial tree looks like it is going to “throw up”! The angel on the top is bigger than the tree, the pink pig looks a little out of place next to the sea shell that we acquired at the beach, the little Chinese girl that hung on my grandmother’s tree and a butterfly that was given to me by a sister in law. But really who really cares, Christmas trees are for old memories to be brought out of the closet, decorated with memories of years passed and enjoyed. A good time to have a little sentimental moment and you can even have a “nice little crying” session with yourself. Of course the Hubby always says, “oh here we go again”! He hates to see women cry.

With the little train running down the window sill just like it always does, Santa Claus’ everywhere and the blessed manger scene in my bed room, this is Christmas to me. I have had a few people say it was strange to have the manager scene in my bed room but really, every morning when I rise and every night when I go to bed this reminds me of what Christmas is all about.

Yes, we all have our way of remembering Christmas. I certainly hope all of you are “MAKING MEMORIES” this year. One day you will say, I am so glad that old Tulip Green told me to do this! Try it you will love it.