Ah issues..We all have them. Our issues hide most of the time(well some of us wear our issues on our sleeve for all to see) but pop up when that certain button is pushed. Like say....the Christmas button. The issues are usually formed way back in childhood. A noted writer stated that "Childhood is what we spend the rest of our life trying to get over" Dont ask me who that noted writer is because I can't remember.(the mid-life memory issue) Now I must be careful here because the person who has Christmas issues is related to a regular reader(hugs Dear Brother). My Darling Wonderful Husband has Christmas tree issues. Now when I was growing up the tree was the least of our issues.I was raised in a christian home with an alcholic abusive father.(talk about issues) We always had a live tree and decorated it the same way every year.(traditions are sacred in these types of families) My husband ,being male, doesn't remember alot about Christmas growing up. He has slept since then,so to speak. No this isn't a dig at males but a fact.(sorry guys) ok I digress...Wayyyy back in October I asked my mate. " What kind of a tree do you want this year". Having been married to this man almost 7 yrs and dealing with tree issues every year,I know to ask this well in advance. He replies"I dont' care. Do what ever YOU want" Well I actually believed him. I gave it alot of thought and decided I didn't really want to care for a live tree this yr. When I lived in Oregon caring for the tree was no big deal because a cut tree stayed green till July. Really it did. While in the house you just gave it some water every few day and then tossed it out back in the forest where it provided habitat for small animals and birds(my justification for tree dumping) BUT...Here in the much dryer Mid-West tree care is much more involved. If you get it to early it has to be watered and misted daily if you want it to last till Christmas. The last couple of years we got a small 4' live tree in a pot. This required much more care as in wartering,misting and turning every few day so all sides get sun. I learned this the hard way with the first tree(the back kinda died) I planted it by a fence so you wouldn't notice.(yes, you can see the dead part of the tree if you come by)Soooo this year I went looking for a pretty little fake tree to put on an antique table I have. All seemed good...untill..." If we are going to get a fake tree why not get a big one?"..Ut oh.. I should have seen this comming but alas I did not so..."Well..We don't really have a place for a big tree in the living room" "Can't we move things around a bit to make it fit?" SOOOO off I went shopping for a big fake tree. I made the mistake of taking Mr Tree issues with me... Store 1...Mr walks around every fake tree with grumpy"I dont' like this tree" look on his face"How bout this one?" I sweetly ask, "no" "this one?" "to expensive" and on and on..Nest day..Shop 2 repeat of shop one only this time, Mrs sweetly looses her temper and walks out of shop 2 . On the very quiet ride home Mr Tree says "I just want a live cut tree" "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT IN OCT.????"So we turn around and off we go (the first weekend after Thanksgiving) to get this tree. Mr Tree knows of a tree farm 40+ miles away that has "the kind of trees I like" ( Does he know what kind that is???) Home we come with our expensive Frasier Fir. "Where is the tree stand?" Mr asks .."In the barn hanging in the chicken coup"...Mr tree returns with no stand."not there, where else could it be" (why is it my job to know where everything is?)"Under your workbench?""Nope not there either, is it upstairs in a closet" "no"(one would think I would know if a big plastic tree stand was in my closet) SOOO upstairs he goes to go look. Nope no tree stand up there(surprise) Soooo off to town we go to the hardwear store to get a stand ,the store that closes in 10 min. By this time I want to hang the tree outside on the fence as a warning to other trees to stay away!!!!!!...Oh it gets better...Mr Tree tells me I can decorate it when he is on the road.."No I'll wait till your here to help?" (said with sweet slightly maniacal smile) Mr Tree actually helped put the lights on..that's it. I slowly added the rest. In closing I want to hear the Christmas issues at YOUR house. Ah come on I know you have them...hiding under the decorations in the closet....
Oh here is a picture of the tree...thought I better take a pic before all the needles fell off and just in case your in fear for me...Mr Tree never reads my blog.
Comments
Friday, December 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Vicki
Well, for all your issues and problems with the tree, it sure is pretty!
That Girl
Friday, December 7, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by stitchnchick
I agree..it's beautiful!
Amy
Monday, December 10, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Hi Patti, I just wanted to say thanks for the sweet comment over at my "place" last week. It was appreciated. There is definitely a lot of prayer involved in this here farming operation.
Which reminded me...I've been checking back here incessantly for the ministry update you promised :) (Funny how we rely on the world wide web for updates from someone who's just a few miles away.)
As for Christmas issues...I can't really think of any right now. We've carried on some traditions from my childhood and adopted some of our own. I'm fortunate that my parents and brother's family have all been open to simplifying as the years go by. In the future my kids will probably say that their mother is their Christmas issue :) We've developed our own traditions as a family over the years, but now I'm perhaps a bit set (and obsessive) about them! Frasier Fir for me, too :) ~Kelli
Monday, January 28, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Eleanor
I laughed so hard while reading this. I half expected you to write that the stand was found in the coup after you bought a new one. That would have been my luck,