Ohhhhh Christmas Tree!

What a surprise this Christmas!

Since 1999 I have lived in rents where live tree or live candles were not practical - but being a creative , I found alternatives for the tree. I work in arts and tech - it’s modern for empty-nesters to “do something different”. So each year I was excited to do up arrangements of some of the precious things and collectibles I gathered over the years or save for the children - things with lights , crystal bells and dishes. And one year , my mother's ladies ceramics class made that funky little Christmas tree - I wired mine and made it a centerpiece and was fine. A charmer of a thing.

As a girl with great parents, and later, as a woman, with my late husband and our children, we never missed a step. With happy hearts we’d bustle about being sure each detail was set, just so. Americans, happily making Christmases from Currier & Ives and Christians “Everything perfect for Jesus!”. and praise and honor to non-Christian friends…and lots of them! The weather may be cold, but the people are warm and merry!

This year I thought I’d opt for a more elegant arrangement, but was not going to get a potted tree to have it die again in the dry house heat.

"But then something unexpected happened" :

It was CHRISTMAS EVE, noon: I ran over to Whole Foods for a few last-minute items and I was sad to see that they were cleaning up the array of live trees and boughs! They had been so good in sight and fragrance for weeks at every visit - the workers smiled at me in sympathy.

Now, only ONE tree left - a gorgeous Fragrant Fraser Fir taller than I am - I don't know why I did, but I asked one of the men:

"How much is it? "

"FREE! - they’ve all gotta go now!” he laughed!

" SOLD! " , I replied.

Here was My first live full-sized tree since Y2K!!! Happyt tears “in front of people” ,

And now to get it home! ! The clerk at Whole Foods dropped it off and would take nothing for the work....He even sawed the weedy stuff off and set it up!!!

Of course that made six hours work, rearranging the room for beauty and safety.....out with the vacuum and dustings. and now adorning the boughs with lights and decorations, collected thru the years, and cherished. I might be doing this at the last minute........... but who cares? Sometimes that’s the most fun.

Euphoria Gloria over this lovely fragrant tree and all it represents !
We are Connecticut natives but lived happily with corporate work in Nort!h Carolina, where the real Fraser ridge grows them. This tree is SO right - thank you elves, angels and wish-granters! And Glastonbury Connecticut Whole Foods Supermarket

Ohhhh Holy Night!