The Family Tree
by Charity TahmasebOur Christmas tree isn’t winning any prizes. If Martha Stewart ever got a glimpse of it, she’d probably break out in hives (a notion that pleases me, possibly too much). We didn’t even have a tree our very first Christmas together. Instead we opened Christmas presents on our wedding day, our ears strained for the phone call that would signal Bob’s deployment to Somalia.
The following year, Bob bought a tree at Target along with red, gold, and silver balls. It looked like we’d plucked it from the center of the Christmas decoration aisle and plunked it down in our living room. It was pretty, but it didn’t have any soul.
When I suggested we exchange tree ornaments instead of anniversary gifts, Bob commented we’d have to stay married a long time for a decently decorated tree. When the kids came along, we added them to the ornament exchange, and they look forward to the ornament shopping excursion almost as much as Christmas Day. Almost.
There is no grand plan, no theme, color or otherwise, for our tree. On the branches, you can find fragile Faberge style egg ornaments and spun glass ones next to the wooden blocks Andrew painted when he was four. We have an ornament commemorating the year 2000 and engraved pewter bells for our tenth anniversary. Thanks to Andrew’s obsession with nutcrackers last year, we added an entire squad of soldiers to our tree. Very soon, each nutcracker soldier will end up with a princess companion, courtesy of Kyra.
In a way, our tree--and its ornaments--is a history of our family. Each year, we add a page, in the form of glass and glitter, bright paint and homemade creations.
And each year, we hang fewer and fewer of those red, gold, and silver balls.
posted by Charity Tahmaseb @ 8:42 AM
5 Comments:
The ornament exchange is a neat tradition. And personally, I like the trees that have all kinds of different things on them. That's how ours is, beginning with ornaments that hung on the tree I had in my dorm room in college. Any time I go in a Christmas store, I can't leave without at least one new Christmas ornament or decoration.
Ours is eclectic too. We aren't adding any balls to the tree this year, mostly because I can't find them (oops!), but also because the tree is full enough with the various ornaments the kids have made or bought over the years. And I love it.
Pam
We pride ourselves on ugly Christmas trees, usually culled from my father in law's back yard--spindly little Charlie Brown Specials. But, like you, they're heavily weighted by history. Lots of preschool treasures. Come to think of it, I don't know that we've ever bought ornaments. They've always been gifts. I've gotta go check.
I love the fact that you exchange ornaments for anniversary presents. What a wonderful commemoration. And very romantic!
hugs, Jen
Charity - a beautiful story. Our second year of marriage, for Christmas everyone gave us ornaments.
So, I love a no theme tree, too!
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