Decorating the tree.
I put up the tree this afternoon.
After letting it sit in water for a few days I brought it in, put it in the stand, stood back, and looked at it.
Every year I do this and every year I say to myself "The tree looks fine just like that plain and natural. Why decorate it only to take it all off in a month or so?" But then the festive part of me takes over and I give in and decorate it.
Next is the hard part.
Unfortunately I never know what winds up in my tree until after I bring it in.
I chased two lizards all around my living room with a cup and paper.
Putting the lights around the tree is the hardest thing for me to do. Since I'm not as organized as Nic is at doing these things I wind up stepping on lights and killing the whole line. This year I came prepared with a couple spare packs of lights. Unlike last year, my first divorced Christmas, the tree looked like a twig with lights and paper glued to it. This year is different.
After the lights are up and the tree is glowing. That same voice comes back into my head and says. "Leave the tree like this. It's semi decorated, yet easy to take down."
But then I think of the kids and give in and start decorating.
I have this big cardboard box full of ornaments. Mostly made by Bella and Con. Paper with glitter glued to it, sort of in the shape of a snow flake. Seeing this reminds me of the divorce. We divided everything. Even the paper ornaments and pictures on the fridge. It was over these pieces of paper that we fought the most through the separation. It's funny to think how pieces of paper can be worth more than gold sometimes.
Lastly comes the decision between the star and the angel. Last year I couldn't decide and just left the top blank, but this year I chose the star. I think that it makes the tree complete. More so than putting a woman up on my tree.
So there the tree is complete. Looking at it I know that Christmas wouldn't be the same had I only left it at the bare limbs and branches that the lazy side of me had almost persuaded me to do. Christmas isn't all about the tree but it wouldn't be Christmas without it.
After letting it sit in water for a few days I brought it in, put it in the stand, stood back, and looked at it.
Every year I do this and every year I say to myself "The tree looks fine just like that plain and natural. Why decorate it only to take it all off in a month or so?" But then the festive part of me takes over and I give in and decorate it.
Next is the hard part.
Unfortunately I never know what winds up in my tree until after I bring it in.
I chased two lizards all around my living room with a cup and paper.
Putting the lights around the tree is the hardest thing for me to do. Since I'm not as organized as Nic is at doing these things I wind up stepping on lights and killing the whole line. This year I came prepared with a couple spare packs of lights. Unlike last year, my first divorced Christmas, the tree looked like a twig with lights and paper glued to it. This year is different.
After the lights are up and the tree is glowing. That same voice comes back into my head and says. "Leave the tree like this. It's semi decorated, yet easy to take down."
But then I think of the kids and give in and start decorating.
I have this big cardboard box full of ornaments. Mostly made by Bella and Con. Paper with glitter glued to it, sort of in the shape of a snow flake. Seeing this reminds me of the divorce. We divided everything. Even the paper ornaments and pictures on the fridge. It was over these pieces of paper that we fought the most through the separation. It's funny to think how pieces of paper can be worth more than gold sometimes.
Lastly comes the decision between the star and the angel. Last year I couldn't decide and just left the top blank, but this year I chose the star. I think that it makes the tree complete. More so than putting a woman up on my tree.
So there the tree is complete. Looking at it I know that Christmas wouldn't be the same had I only left it at the bare limbs and branches that the lazy side of me had almost persuaded me to do. Christmas isn't all about the tree but it wouldn't be Christmas without it.