What Do You Have To Say? - Deck the Halls!
It was in eighth grade that my father decided to do something different. Inspired by the enormous candleholder my grandfather gained from an old German cathedral, he decided we were going to practice a German tradition. He didn't tell us whether or not said tradition was still practiced, or what accidents may or may not have occured from it. But none the less, it was done. Our Christmas tree was hanging from the ceiling.
Have you ever tried to decorate an upside down Christmas tree that's positioned where your hanging lamp used to be? I didn't think so. Well, let me just say that it is an interesting experience. We have broken many an ornament and, considering the fact that the tree hangs over the dinner table, several plates as well. Oh yes, Christmas is a unique experience in my family. Did I mention we aren't Christian? We have Christmas every year because of habit, and possibly because my grandmother would throw a fit if she didn't have an excuse to visit and spoil my brother and me during the winter holidays. Not that I mind. What else do I have to celebrate? New Years is spent sitting on a freezing beach watching lights in the sky, Valentine's Day is a corporate scam to sell chocolate at overpriced rates (or get rid of awful tasting candy -cough-sweethearts-cough-), and St. Patricks Day? Give me a break. April Fools is fun, but I can never think of any good, not overly immature tricks, Easter gives me eggs and more habitual Christianity, Fourth of July is AGAIN spent on an ice cold beach, even though it's in the summer, and the only reason Independence Day is on the fourth is because they had to delay the celebrations for two days! I'm way too old for Halloween, and my appetite is miniscule (and I dislike dry turkey, I mean, really), so Thanksgiving is just watching the rest of my family stuff their faces while I try to save some room for pie. Besides Christmas, the only "holiday" I get is my birthday. I ask for donations to charity instead of presents, but at least I get one free day from working my butt off. Now that I'm off topic... I'll get on it again.
As a final note, let me review the decorations. German candelabra, upside down tree, what could be better. Oops, I forgot to mention the neon candy canes in the windows. My bad.
Have you ever tried to decorate an upside down Christmas tree that's positioned where your hanging lamp used to be? I didn't think so. Well, let me just say that it is an interesting experience. We have broken many an ornament and, considering the fact that the tree hangs over the dinner table, several plates as well. Oh yes, Christmas is a unique experience in my family. Did I mention we aren't Christian? We have Christmas every year because of habit, and possibly because my grandmother would throw a fit if she didn't have an excuse to visit and spoil my brother and me during the winter holidays. Not that I mind. What else do I have to celebrate? New Years is spent sitting on a freezing beach watching lights in the sky, Valentine's Day is a corporate scam to sell chocolate at overpriced rates (or get rid of awful tasting candy -cough-sweethearts-cough-), and St. Patricks Day? Give me a break. April Fools is fun, but I can never think of any good, not overly immature tricks, Easter gives me eggs and more habitual Christianity, Fourth of July is AGAIN spent on an ice cold beach, even though it's in the summer, and the only reason Independence Day is on the fourth is because they had to delay the celebrations for two days! I'm way too old for Halloween, and my appetite is miniscule (and I dislike dry turkey, I mean, really), so Thanksgiving is just watching the rest of my family stuff their faces while I try to save some room for pie. Besides Christmas, the only "holiday" I get is my birthday. I ask for donations to charity instead of presents, but at least I get one free day from working my butt off. Now that I'm off topic... I'll get on it again.
As a final note, let me review the decorations. German candelabra, upside down tree, what could be better. Oops, I forgot to mention the neon candy canes in the windows. My bad.