I am not ready to throw the Christmas tree to the curb, but we’ll have no choice in a few days. We bought our first live tree in many years — just for one year — I thought. Jerry has been disappointed in our slim, artificial tree since the first year. It looked beautiful, took little space (and lots of ornaments) and snuggled up in a box demanding nothing when the season came to a close each year. Yet I came upon Jerry at his workbench the other day with a truncated section of this very tree, his clippers mutilating the lights. Dr. Frankenstein was driving a stake through the heart of the tree getting ready to discard it. I rescued that part and hope the other two are in tact somewhere.
I’ll admit the live one is amazing, green, fresh and fragrant, but it has to come down without procrastination. This in the house of a family who once left a tree up until Good Friday. No leaves are dropping and drooping is minimal, but there is the safety factor. The battery in the smoke detector began beeping its demise yesterday. The tree has to go. I don’t think I’m ready. Maybe I’m not ready for any of them to go. Maybe I have an issue with endings. But beginnings, that’s another story. A new year? Bring it on!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Note: In case it is not obvious, the live tree is on the left above, artificial on right.
A N H I N G A 
I know what you mean about endings. We went to the city over the weekend to enjoy the lights and christmas feel before it all got taken down, but it was decidedly unchristmassy there. It seemed the big businesses lost interest with the holiday the moment people stopped buying things.
It takes so much time and effort and thought to get into the spirit, I’m reluctant to relinquish the holiday now.
btw, speaking of trees, I love the twisted trunks in your blog banner. they look kinda mystical.
The water was real low in the Wekiva River basin when we took that boat trip. I, too, loved all the twisted roots all bleached from the sun. That is one of my favorite places in the world.
When you say “city” what do you mean? I’m not sure where you are, but the scenery is spectacular.
Thank you, it is beautiful here, like a postcard. I live in a small coastal town in Oregon, but we go to ‘the city’, Portland, Oregon from time to time, for a change.
Wekiva even sounds a little mystical.
Showing open windows at Christmas? Careful Beda, you’ll attract more snowbirds to Florida.
But you see I must be able to quickly lift the screens to let out the lizards, swamp spiders, snakes and Volkswagen-sized roaches. (How’s that? Did I redeem myself?)