Ornaments adieu
We're in the process of taking down the Christmas tree.
It’s a tough decision to take down the tree, because it was so much fun to put it up.
We enjoyed it most nights, the extra bit of glimmer in the room and the homey feel of our collection of ornaments.
Judging from announcements of the Boy Scouts Christmas tree removal, we’ve kept our Christmas tree up longer than most people. However, since we cut it fresh it wasn’t in imminent risk of shooting into flames or dropping needles all over the place.
We will take our tree to our friend the Shepherd who will offer it to his goats which go crazy for the delicacy of pine needles.
The whole ritual of putting up a Christmas tree is sacred. First the trip to cut it and find the perfect tree in the middle of a beautiful forest. Then ornaments are brought down from their hiding place in the storage room.
I like to play Christmas music when I decorate the tree — schmaltzy music where you have to use the actual record player to play those aged albums I got from Mom with songs from Bing Crosby and the Carpenters.
As each ornament is unwrapped, it's a nostalgic moment as I vaguely recall making that angel out of macaroni, a glue stick and some spray paint in third grade.
Taking the ornaments and lights down is like shoving sleeping bags and camping gear in the shed.