The Memory Tree

Well, this is it..the last day of 2014, a time for reflection.  My dreaded task this morning took me on a tour of memories.  Taking down Christmas trees...I hate it!   I get so excited about decorating for the holidays; but, let's face it..it's a sad task taking it all down.  It's like, "Okay, the party's over...nothing to look forward to until Spring..or snow, whichever comes first."  

Okay, back to the tree.  I'm usually in such a hurry putting all the ornaments on the tree in November that I don't always take the time to appreciate the history all those treasures represent.  So today, I did.

First of all, not all ornaments make it on the tree every year.  Some are too fragile to subject to the errant tail wagging of a ninety pound dog, or the curious fingers of "littles."  There are the Shiny Brites of my childhood...the ones with the indentations in the glass, holding snow people & little bottle-brush Christmas trees.  Or the rainbow glass one with a tiny church etched on the side from my husband's childhood Christmas trees.

Call me sentimental, but I kept all the little plastic apple ornaments that said Merry Christmas from Miss White, or Mrs. Johnson until they were too warped and cracked by the years, or more likely...the summer heat in the attic.  And then there's the plastic trumpet & cleft note from Eric's & Daniel's elementary days of band and choir.

I can't forget the little clothespin drum major ornaments that mom & I painted.  The glue on their black pom-poms has loosened so their hats sit sideways.  There's also the blue and mauve wise men on camels looking for baby Jesus...gotta love the 80's.  LOL!  Crafty girl that I am, I have years-old beaded ornaments with hot-glued gold braid sticking out like prickly cactus. Those get stuck in the middle of the tree--out of sight. One of these years, I'll repair them before they get returned to the attic.

There are remnants of ornaments..like the cascading crystal bells purchased pre-1979 in the over-street mall in downtown Charlotte.  One or two of the fragile bells are long departed, but those that remain get hung on the tree.  A tiny bluebird on a nest, once part of a larger ornament given to me by my husband's brother, was rescued once from the branches of our live tree--at the curb.  If we hadn't found it in time, believe me..the next Christmas I would have missed it!  


A few more of my favorite ones: a cross-stitched ornament that says, "Daniel, precious gift from God" made by my friend, Janice, in 1978.  I treasure the acrylic "crystal" ones my mom gave me; especially 1982, when Eric was born.  They were probably promotional items, maybe they came with cans of coffee, or some other household item.  We have a brass Hershey's kiss that my in-laws brought back from Hershey, Pennsylvania.  There is the fishing ornament from a tree we decorated for my father-in-law's grave the first Christmas after he passed away, and the little ornament Teresa made the same year..with a picture of Mom H & Pop H kissing under the mistletoe. Oh, how I miss him!  More recently added are the ornaments representing engagements, weddings, and births of grandchildren.  My last addition, this year, are a set of quilted snowmen that traveled over 3,000 miles cross-country in a suitcase...while the more precious family was left behind.

Oh, I've only touched the surface of the memories "un-decorating" a tree can bring.  Words and thoughts were clamoring around in my head, just begging to get out.  The dreaded deed is complete.  I am satisfied..for now.

Happy New Year!

Copyright 2014
Laney's Musings