Dododreams

Mugs, that title is for you!

One of the things I got done today was putting up my Christmas tree. I say “my” to distinguish it from Dad’s — I happen to have two skinny cheapie fake trees that were purchased over the last few years so when he and I were inventorying his house last year he decided to dump his old wracked-up artificial and go with one of mine instead. Therefore this morning I hauled both tree boxes up from the basement and set them up.

Back in the day the ex and I always had a real tree. The first few years he and I would head out to the tree farm to choose and cut one; in later years the Boy Scout fundraiser treelot was the place to go. He took charge of sawing the end off the trunk to even it out and hammering on the tree stand before bringing it in the house. I was the trimmer, both literally and decoratively. My cat Scooter was in charge of drinking out of the water container in the stand; Beauregard was in charge of chewing the little plastic flower thingies from around a couple strands of mini-lights. Roscoe was in charge of nothing because she was a fizzbrain. It all worked out.

I enjoyed smelling the live tree, and listening to the pine cones expand with little pops. It was a hassle undecorating off dry prickly branches and wrestling the thing out the front door in late January but overall having a real tree was nice.

After the kids and I moved into the first apartment, no more live trees. The risk of water damage plus getting the thing to whatever place we were living was too much. This was when I bought the first of today’s two tall skinny fakes; the second was purchased the duplex Christmas since there was room enough in one hallway for a second set-up.

So some years there was one tree; one year two. A couple years there were no lights, the tree being situated away from any reasonable plug-ins; and last year I was too disheartened by the second apartment to bother getting it out at all.

This year, however, there are two trees. One is in the front/dining/piano room, sitting in the window corner by the front door. That will be Dad’s tree, decorated with his lights and ornaments brought from Fargo. The second tree is in the living room, located next to a window by one of the long walls. This is my tree and I say “my” with intent. You see, I like Christmas ornaments, especially one particular theme kind, and every year since I moved away from my parents’ house I have bought a couple decorations for myself. In addition, every year since each of my children was born I have bought him or her one or two special ones, choosing something to represent that year in their lives and marking each with the respective initial and year. In sum, we have a lot of ornaments.

So every tree year since I’ve been out on my own — save the no- and two-tree years — I have gotten out the ornament bins only to have three little helpers jump for joy at being able to hang their special ornaments on the tree, one by one, oooing and aaahing the whole time. It’s been sweet, and fun to reminisce with them as this activity took place. Finally all their ornaments would be hung and the tree would be full and I would pack my special ornaments away for another year.

Well this year I decided to be selfish and decorate the tree my way. I was thinking about this today and semi-decided that unless there is a giant fuss about this a new tradition is being established: a Kid Tree for the Christmases they are with me and a Mom Tree for the years they are not. Hopefully it will work out or, if not, perhaps next year there will be three trees, eh?

All this rambling is actually a lead-in to pictures of the decorated tree, yay! Most of these pictures can be clicked for a bigger version, just in case anyone wants a close-up look.

The first is the entire thing. There are two strands of lights which twinkle randomly.

I think one glance would show that it’s a bird and animal theme, save for the exceptional angel on the top.

This wonderful thing was drawn by my son when he was 5. He brought it home, so proud of his creation, and it has been on top of my Christmas tree every year since. It warms my heart and probably mortifies him by now but I don’t care. If a parent cannot be sappy over something their little kid made then there is no truth or justice in this world. Here it is closer:

Amazing, isn’t it? Just think of this bright little kid, face shining, giving his beloved mother this gift, this wonderful angel he drew that looked “just like YOU, Mama, it’s pretty like YOU!”

Oh dear lord, I need a little pause here to wipe away the tears of laughter. This angel just slays me every year, it is without a doubt my favorite thing any child of mine has made ever. Hee!

Back to the decorations, you may have noticed a preponderance of my favorite bird, the lovely red cardinal. I mentioned above buying a theme ornament every year and this is it, a cardinal in some variety which is different from all the rest. It’s hokier than hell and I know it and I don’t care, I love my cardinal ornaments.

However there are other critters represented, from a number of reindeer to different birds to some random African animals (gorilla, giraffe, rhino) to a seahorse to even one representative from the fantasyworld, a dragon.

And finally there is one concession to my children and the world of domesticated beasts. I suppose were you to hear my heavy weary sigh right now you could probably guess what it is. Sigh.

And that’s my tree this year, a little slice of life here Chez Dodo.