Traditions

As much as I admire those who do a special theme or designer tree each year, I freely admit--not for me. I am all about pulling out the same old ornaments year after year. My Christmas tradition is deeply rooted in my family's tradition. The tree was loaded with ornaments of every size and shape; the Austrian blown glass nestled next to the plastic painted disk my sister created in Kindergarten. The tree itself was artificial. Not just artifictial; it featured giant flocked needles that no real fir tree every imagined. But I loved it.

My own tree is a green tree. I opted for artificial several years ago, when my allergies got the better of me. I covet one of the trees like my friend Marsh has, but I am happy with the tree we bought at Walmart when I first came to Canada. I don't shop at Walmart anymore, for various reasons, but they do have nice artifical trees. Even if they do treat their employees more like indentured servants than free people.

This year, a few ornaments missed the Christmas tree cut, but generally, every thing in the box goes on the tree. Last year, I got a bit stressed with the responsibility of finding a place for each and every single ornament I have accumulated and I started purging. But, I still have most of the purged ornaments packed away. I suspect a second tree in somewhere in my future.

The picture doesn't do my beautiful tree justice. You should really come and see it in person.