Known Knowns

I just got finished putting up our Christmas tree this year. If you’ll recall, I got a freecycle tree last year, and wrote about it here. There’s also a picture of it with four measly ornaments. You’ll just have to stay tuned (I can’t take a picture and get the full effect while the sun is shining,) because it’s looking much better this year, with Jennifer’s colored balls as a nice addition, and…I bought lights! Yes, they were on sale at the grocery store: Two boxes for five bucks, and that was hard to turn down. Of course, after I brought them home, I read the back of the box. Apparently Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick is bringing me lead poisoning this year. Oh well. You get what you pay for. What’s a little more lead poisoning, for five bucks?

Now that the tree is up, I am currently waiting for on of the pets to either climb it or chew it. Each of them got a harsh warning when they came within ten feet of it. I am obviously most concerned about the dog, as the cats are probably too fat, lazy, and old to bother with a Christmas tree anymore (although I trust Cicero less than Elsa.) Roland has, thus far, stayed a good distance away from it, and is now paying it almost no attention. Good. We’ll see how long that lasts.

I just love Christmas trees. Josh doesn’t care as much as I do, which is fine, because then I get to do all the decorating myself, and we all know how much I hate to share. For our wedding, we got some beautiful glass ornaments from a friend who taught with my Mom. I think of her every year when I hang those ornaments.

I also remember what a huge deal the Christmas Tree was in our house, when I was growing up. It went up every year on Thanksgiving, as did most of the other decorations. I was always so impatient for my Dad to hang the lights so I could start putting up the ornaments; our tree was huge and I was never tall enough to help with the lights. Our ornaments were the tacky kind; the kind that we kids made in school. For example, I believe my parents still have the small slice of purple and orange pizza that I made in preschool. And I know they still hang the angel I made in Sunday School–she has blue eyeliner and gold, tinsel hair. (I was classy from day one.)

I also remember the year my brother started deciding to hang out with his friends rather than stay home with us and decorate the tree. It made me so sad; I felt like he was missing out on one of my favorite family traditions. I guess that’s what happens when you grow up. Growing up in Kansas City, Thanksgiving evening was a big night for lights, trees, and decorations. That was the night of the Plaza Lighting Ceremony, too, and that was a huge deal. I’ve never been in a city that makes such a big deal out of Thanksgiving, but in my heart, I always expect it. I’m always suprised by the lack of Christmas lights around here. Of course, we don’t have them, either, but it’s because we’re paying tuition, instead. I told Josh that the first year I’m out of nursing school (2009) we will have lights on the house, come hell or high water.

Happy Holidays, everyone. Maybe this year I’ll actually use the Christmas cards I bought last year.