Have you put up your Christmas tree yet? I did that last week. For once, I’m ahead of the game.
Real trees are apparently in short supply this year, and that should tell you something about global warming, and one effect of the never-seeming-to end Covid crisis. Bad weather affected the growing season, and there is also a lack of workers at tree farms.
So, this year many of us will be going with an artificial tree, rather than the real thing.
I have the most delightful tree that could exist for me. I first sighted it at a Covington Woman’s Club luncheon at the old depot in Covington. There was a display of trees there, decorated by different artists, and they were for sale at a silent auction.
I am not much of a silent auction person. I decide what I can, or am willing to pay, write it down, and am usually bested by one or more buyers.
But I saw this tree, and knew I’d never find a more perfect one. The tree is silver. It is festooned with pale pink and rose balls, hot pink icicles and, of course, white lights. It stands about three feet tall. I simply had to have it!
I decided I could afford to pay up to $35 for the tree. So, that was my bid. I crossed my fingers, and willed the other ladies to stay clear of my treasure. But no. Someone outbid me with $50, so that was that. I went home feeling rather dejected. That was MY tree!
I got over it. But suddenly, one day in March, I got a call from the historical society guy. “No one ever picked up or paid for that pink tree,” he said. “You were the next highest bidder; do you want it?”
Boy, did I ever! I drove down to Covington right away, and hauled – in a delicate fashion – the prize to my car. The tree was mine!
All it lacked was a star on the top. But … Charlotte Williamson had given me a little turquoise paper origami crane. Since the basic color scheme of my home is turquoise and pink, this would make the perfect topper! That was years ago, and the turquoise crane is still flying with grace atop the tree.
Then, someone who knows I like flamingos gave me the most fabulous one I’ve ever seen: It was a black flamingo with pink accents, rhinestones and white feathers. And, get this, it was a tree ornament! That flamingo makes the tree absolutely outstanding!
When the holidays are over, I wrap the tree with a black plastic garbage bag on the top, and another on the bottom. Then comes the scary, precarious part: Hauling it down to the basement. I have a certain friend who comes to wrestle with my vacuum now and again. I am no longer able to wrangle that thing around the house, unless I take three days to do it.
My friend is much younger. She hops downstairs into the creepy basement (which we both detest), brings up the tree, sets it up on my dining room table and – voila! – I have the world’s most wonderful pink and silver Christmas tree, with sparkly white lights, to enjoy throughout the season.
I am very grateful to whatever woman thought she wanted “my” tree and outbid me, and then decided maybe she didn’t want or need a pink Christmas tree after all. I sure did want it – desperately.
What are the odds that I’d get my tree in March? I couldn’t wait for the next Christmas season to arrive.
Life … you gotta love it!
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