it is beginning to look like christmas

We got a tree today! This is a huge deal. Aside from an ornament tree, in the 20 years we have known each other, this is our first tree. It is 6.5 feet tall, artificial and pre-lit. We got the floor model, half price, at Lowe's. It has a bit of Charlie Brown flair to it.

Growing up, once we moved to California, it was rare that we had a Christmas tree. This broke my heart in ways I can't explain. My paternal grandmother loved Christmas. She has a 9' tall tree in her living room. She often left it up until Easter. She had boxes of ornaments and a little village that went around the bottom of the tree.

One year my Mom's on and off live-in boyfriend, affectionately known as Bozo, decided we could get a tree. I think this may have been because the previous year, I managed to get a tree on my own. Our classroom had a tree, and I asked if I could have it when I realized it would just be tossed before we left for the holiday break. I even convinced the mother who had donated it to drive it to our house.

Bozo decided the tree we got should be real, and we should chop it down ourselves. I decided I wanted the "perfect" tree, and we went to three Christmas tree farms before I was coerced into agreeing I had indeed found the "perfect" tree. Then my sister and I each took a handle of the saw and tried to cut it down, sawing back and forth. Honestly, I was lucky Bozo didn't take an axe to me. We didn't have the strength to actually complete the tree cutting, and in the end, he had to step in. We got it home, but didn't have any decorations.

We did get him to agree to buy three strands of lights. It really wasn't enough. And I don't remember what else we found to put on the tree, but it was perfect.

Now all I need to do is find ornament hooks. Didn't they used to sell these at the check out aisles? Now it is all gift cards and candy. Witnessed a woman buy over $1000 worth of gift cards at the grocery store tonight. She said she was giving them as presents at a party she was having.


on the night stand :: The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket