Tuesday, 11/23 -- Have you hugged your tree today?

We easily have enough Christmas tree ornaments to decorate four, maybe five trees. We have only two trees. I say “only” because we used to have three.

Some of you may remember in the spring I sent out an e-mail offering a tree “free to a good home.” That tree did eventually find a good home. It left behind all its ornaments.

In the past I bought many large boxes full of Christmas decorations at the area auctions. In these boxes were some beautiful antique glass ornaments. Most dated to the 1950s and 60s, but some are much older than that. Some are hand painted. Some are so delicate that they disintegrate if you blow on them. They look great on the tree.

Lyn has a beautiful collection of high quality, glass ornaments and other collectible ornaments. Everything from hand-made, blown glass works of art to Star Wars talking figurines. Each one is an object that you can hold and admire before you place it on the tree. Good stuff.

Of the two trees we have, one is an aluminum tree from the 50s. The only ornaments you put on them are a few simple glass balls.

We’ll soon be getting rid of about a half a ton of ornaments that hold no sentimental value to us. If anyone out there needs some, they are free for the taking. You can’t have any of the good ones. Sorry.

Setting up the tree.
Last year we didn’t decorate for the holidays. Last year we were not “feeling it.” We were both unemployed, our savings was dwindling and our eBay sales were stagnant. To top it all off, fate had given me The Big C.

Happiness and warm holiday cheer was far from our hearts. We didn’t receive any visits from whimsical, magical elves late in the night to show us “the true meaning of Christmas.” If one did stop by, we might have stomped him into the carpet with our boot heels. Bah, with extra humbug.

This year... this year.... this year things are different. Despite all the trials we have faced recently, despite all the hardships we continue to endure, despite the fear and anxiety about the future... this year things are different.

This year we have our tree. The tree glows warmly with white lights, soft and sweet, filling the room with ambient light. Dozens of ornaments, each one placed after careful consideration in just the right spot. On the tree skirt is Charcoal, our large gray cat; she’s curled herself into a ball and is sound asleep. Everything comes together in one glorious presentation. There are few things more stunningly beautiful than our tree.