Oh Christmas Tree...

Dear Diary,

What is it that Shakespeare said?  A rose by any other name...?  Well, this is my Christmas tree this year.  It has an ornament and packages underneath so it qualifies I should think.

I usually put up a big tree but this year I've decided to simplify.  No house guests for the holiday so I wanted to relax and enjoy the other dimensions of Christmas without the "trimmings".

My dad was the one who "decked the halls" growing up.  He made us put the tinsel on one strand at a time, which we did when he was watching...I won't say what we did when he turned away!  And I remember the Christmas the cat knocked the tree down...what a mess! 

Then there is the story of the flying squirrel that I found in my Christmas tree a few years back.  I hadn't decorated it yet and I thought it's tail was a bit of forest debris.  What a surprise I had when I tried to remove it!  Good thing it wasn't decorated because his leap to escape sent both me and the tree to the floor!  Ah, the joys of country living!  Christmas trees hold so many memories in their branches along with the shiny ornaments and the occasional squirrel!

 I am enjoying my memory trees this year!

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.


~Roy L. Smith