Walking into my home the dreamy smell of a fresh pine tree fills the air. I’m really a country girl at heart. When I went to the tree farm the minute I got out of the car, I was in heaven. Standing for several minutes just breathing in that mountain air filled with sweet pine was the only place on earth I longed to be…at that moment. We all know I had several places to be and all around the same time, so let’s get this tree and get going!
Normally, traditionally and preferably I am accompanied by other family members on the Christmas tree hunt. This year according to everyone’s schedule…we were all on our own for tree shopping. All except for Hubs, he ain’t ever into tree hunting…though he has been forced a time or two and the results were not pretty. As I walked down the first isle I realized something else was feeling abnormal. The sun was shining and it was unusually warm outside. I was alone, no one to call my attention to their favorite tree, no arguing as to who’s tree is better and even worse nobody was getting poked or swatted with the giant measuring stick we carry along to mark our tree. This year one of the workers actually pointed me towards a tree that met my requirements of tall and slender, and that was all she wrote. Before I knew it the tree was being cut down and loaded on the wagon.
Tree tied to the luggage rack on the roof of the car and off I went to pick up Hubs from work. I have never taxied a tree around before either. Normally, traditionally we head right to the house and get her in the stand with some sugar water but this year I had to take the interstate or I wouldn’t get to Hubs in time. At first I drove under the speed limit, and cars were zooming past me, so I pushed the gas and drove the speed limit. My eyes were darting wildly to the sun roof where I could see the trunk, and then to the back window where I could see nothing. Nothing was good, as this meant the tree was still secure up there. About halfway to my destination, I could see the tree top sliding down the back window and I practically held my breath the rest of the way, praying that it wouldn’t fall off and hit the cars behind me.
Feeling a sort of calm I arrived safe and tree secure, I then panicked thinking of the long drive home. But as we rounded a few corners, eyeballs peeled on the back window we felt a little giddy and knew we must resemble the Griswold’s from the movie Christmas Vacation. This was pretty accurate and normal as most years we could be our own box office hit regarding the tree.
After getting it into the stand, and spending an hour untangling lights and strategically placing them on the tree, we noticed that the trunk was very crooked and the top of tree was leaning way to one side. I’m pretty sure that if our Angel could talk she would of protested being strapped up there. Yes strapped, like a bull rider straps himself on his wild bucking bull otherwise she’d slid off. Sitting back now to enjoy the view our tree looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book in Whoville but hey, it smells divine. And I have my own personal Grinch that lovingly helped me set it all up!
Is there a little HECK in your Deck the Halls? I’m pretty sure it’s normal….but then again what do I know!
Join me as we remain calm and even get a little giddy over things being abnormal….embracing every moment and all the imperfections.
“God we thank you for the wonderful moments in life….like that night in a stable where the star was abnormally bright. In Jesus name Amen.”