The Tree

I really wish I had the ability to come up with kitschy eye catching titles…..but alas, I am not that creative!

Finally, got the tree decorated last night.

Photo credit to C – who was fascinated that each “sparkle” was 7 sided.

It’s been up and lit since last weekend.

I was beginning to think it was looking pretty nice with just the lights on it, but I finally got all of in one place at the same time, and got the miserable  girl teenager to quit whining about not wanting to bother with anything for the holiday come help us. Combine typical teenage apathy, with tendency toward depression, and sometimes our traditions aren’t so much fun.

She would only put “her” ornaments on, which is fine. Every year we purchase the kids a new ornament that hopefully represents in some way their interests from that year, and their personalities. When they leave, they will take their ornaments with them, to start their own tree.

“why”, she says, “I don’t even remember buying half of them!”. Fruitlessly, I try to get her to understand they will make her smile in a few years.

But she kept fighting with me about putting the “stupid” handmade ornaments on the tree. “They don’t match the ones from the store. “

How do you get a teenager whose world presently revolves around themselves, to really understand what this tree means to me.

Little hands that used to barely wrap around a Christmas ball, now hold it like a toy.

Blue and white bags from school that contained the Christmas craft, that neither child could wait for me to open, and show me their crafty treasure.

Sweet cheeky faces

Memories that seem a lifetime ago…..

Precious treasure, the only remaining, from *my* own childhood.

Gifts given from the heart by far flung friends.

Patient’s who give from their heart with what they can, to show appreciation and love.

Phases of childhood…..

Passions and princesses, that will most likely not been seen again…..

Family vacations, and the memories that remain…..

and private moments shared….

this is a wine glass wire ornament holding a cork from our anniversary trip to Seneca Lake.

Reminders that even after all these years, they still hang everything in one place, making me smile…………….

C’s section of the tree – in one square foot is Scooby and Shaggy, Yoda, Minions, bowling balls, Rudolph, Tron and Tweety bird.

This year’s selections – Characters from Up chosen by K because she loves the movie and the Grape Soda patch scene, and Tron the Legacy chosen by C

And reminders , that no matter how grown up they try to act, they are still my the same kids they have always been, and little glimpses of that childhood twinkle reveal themselves now and again.

I tell K, “Someday you’ll understand.”

It matters not if a tree is green, plastic or aluminum.  It only matters that it is decorated with smiles.
J. Allen Harrison