O Christmas Tree

2018 Farewell

It is one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen in my life. I can't really help that it was mine. It was!

The tree came to be ours somewhere around 1997 or so. I think we got it on clearance right before Christmas that year. The reason I really remember that is because as I recall, we were in the early stages of  designing and building our second and LAST parade home. Life was a bit crazy, but we fortunately happened upon this deal of a tree.

2014

So, for the next many years, the house was decorated at Christmas time with this beautiful tree. I would be less than honest if I said, 1: I put the tree up yearly and 2: I decorated the tree yearly.
The reason those would be false statements is because I chose not to put up a tree several times due to my work schedule or our holiday plans. The other reason is because at one point in time, I know this sounds a bit crazy, but we hired someone to decorate our house for Christmas. Thus, I did not put it up every year. But, I put it up often.

This tree was work, it assembled by putting each branch in its proper hole after shaping each branch out of the box. I cannot even tell you how tall the tree was, but is was sufficiently tall. I know my mom came over several times and help shape the branches for me. Each branch was color coded with paint on the metal part that in time eventually wore off. I had to create a new method of marking the branches. I found various colors of duct tape and that along with twist ties worked great. As I assembled the tree from the bottom, I strung the lights too. This tree was created long before pre-lit trees, so each year the lights would get strung. I collected ornaments over the years which were gold, red, purple and gold wire ribbon. An angel topped the tree.

Over the years, I purchased other trees to put up in other places in my house, so even if the big tree wasn't up, we usually managed to have at least a tree up. In 2010 we opted not to put any decorations up, for this I am still very thankful, and if you want to know why, you'll have to read the blog from that year.

This year, I started the season with the thought that it was a good year to only put up the smaller tree. I had nearly resolved that the big tree would be up one last time, maybe next year, and then it would be retired. But, as the season got closer and I had moved some furniture in my living room, I realized the empty spot would be perfect for the big tree. So, I decided, this is the year that the tree is put up and this is the year the tree is retired. I committed to getting it out of my house as soon as the season was over. It had brought us years of pleasure, and it was time to move on...besides, it was a beast to put up and that was getting to me.

2016

So, up it went. It sat a few days undecorated once it was finally completely assembled. Lights were on and working fine. Angel went to the trash can because I noticed she had some melting spots near the lights. I figured a fire was not really the desired look. We went and purchased a new star and promptly returned it when it decided to only stay on for one night before dying. We found a white star tree topper for a good deal and bought some gold spray paint and completed the tree with that star and the ornaments that adorned the tree all of these years. The tree was BEAUTIFUL; too beautiful. I sat in the living room and admired the beauty of this tree, I took pictures, I laid on the floor and took pictures and continued to admire how beautiful it had become. I picked up ornaments several times that the cats had decided looked better on the floor than the tree. I didn't let that stop me from my next thought, which I actually spoke in words.

"Jim, I am keeping the tree. I cannot say good-bye to it yet. It is way too pretty to be retired. Change of plans." And in true male fashion, he said, "___________."

I had the lights on a timer to stay on until about 2 am. I wanted to make sure the tree would be on when I got home from work each night. That night, I was not working and went to bed at a normal time. Later on, I couldn't sleep and decided to get up rather than toss and turn. I opened the door from out bedroom to the living room and much to my dismay, all but one string of lights was out. Horror of horrors! My beautiful tree was not as beautiful, and all this meant was more work to make it right.

So, the decision was made. The tree would leave. If I had to fix it, I may as well put that energy into taking it down and selling it. So, since I had some great pictures of it, I put it on Marketplace and it sold. I undecorated it, kept some of the most sentimental ornaments, and sent it on its way to a new home.

That is the story of the tree.