Oh, Christmas Tree

When I was a little girl, we lived in North Carolina. My dad and his brother in law, would go out into the woods and bring home a Christmas tree.

When I grew up and married, my husband and I would go to the Christmas tree lot on the corner and the two of us would wrestle the tree home.

As the years went by, the family grew bigger, the homes grew bigger and so did the Christmas trees.

Every year my husband would say, this year the tree is going to be much smaller. I would agree.

We would bring home a tree that was a just little bit larger than last years. Although we never got one quite as large as the tree a few blocks from home.

I miss that tree. There is nothing like walking down Fifth Avenue in New York City at Christmas time and looking at the store window displays, looking at that tree, watching the ice skaters and then going somewhere for hot chocolate. Or a drink. Whatever warms you best.

Our first Christmas together, it was just the two of us and my little cat. She liked the tree and the ornaments and enjoyed living dangerously by hanging outside of the window ( 6th floor) trying to catch a pigeon. ( not to worry-she lived to be 15)..

Now here we are .. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Land of fake Christmas trees. It is too hot, they would have died and lost all their needles by the time they were shipped here. So there are plenty of artificial trees to choose from and I cannot like any of them. I have considered getting an all white artificial tree, at least it is "honestly" fake, not fooling anyone, here I am , a White Tree..

But I cannot find anything here that looks as good as the White trees in the magazines, I am losing my focus. I am starting to think that what we have already is good enough .. Eucalyptus wreaths, a small brass filigree tree with crystals hanging from the tips of the branches and lots of gold stars with beads on them that used to go on a tree and now hang from chandeliers and doorknobs , and lots of candles.

So I think once again, there will be No Tree for Me... but we will make up for it with Christmas Cheer .

And maybe just a little Champagne and Chocolate .. and a new bone for the Pup.

We won't even notice that the tree is very small and none of the needles will fall off.