Every Thanksgiving Day, my family cuts down the Christmas Tree. This tradition began when my parents moved my sister and me from Illinois to Indiana. I was seven and my sister was five. My parents wanted our immediate family to have something special since we were so far from our grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. So, the custom began.
Every year, we would wake up relatively early to the smell off my mother hard at work in the kitchen, cooking away. Once the turkey was in the oven, we would set off to the Christmas Tree farm in search of the perfect yearly tree. Of course, every year the tree was different. Some years, it was lopsided, some years it was short or too tall and had to be trimmed. Sometimes it was too fat and other years too sparse. But, no matter what our family went through during the past year, we always came together and agreed on our “perfect” tree.
After the tree was brought home, we would take naps, eat snacks, help my mother in the kitchen and wait until after Thanksgiving dinner to decorate the tree. My sister and I would argue over who would set up the nativity scene and re-arrange it based on who set it up. Every ornament was unwrapped from last year’s newspaper or printed paper towel, ready to be unveiled, hopefully unbroken. My mom always turned on Christmas music and my sister and I would wait until my dad snuck in some rock-n-roll. We would boogey around the tree, decorating, laughing and making memories.
Different years brought different people into our home, as well. Sometimes other family members or friends would come to join our tree outing. The camaraderie and fun lifted low spirits and lightened burdens.
Now, my sister and I are older. We’re married with careers and families of our own. But no matter what direction our lives have taken, the road leads back to my parent’s house on Thanksgiving morning to cut down the Christmas tree. With husbands in tow and extra saws in hand we bring home not just one tree, but one for our homes, as well. The gathering has grown, but the branches of the tradition touch our homes and hearts, even now. Friends and family, near and far, call to join the festivities and the festivities of our ritual.
Every year our family cuts down a Christmas Tree. But, it’s not just the tree – it’s the heart of our thankfulness. Keep your eyes peeled; you may see us some Thanksgiving afternoon, taking pictures, wandering through trees, laughing and full of joy. That’s what Thanksgiving is to our family and will be for years to come.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
In honor of my husband the Navy Man
A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of officers that included personnel from most of those countries. Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, 'Whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English.' He then asked, 'Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?'
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop...
Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied, 'Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German.'
You could have heard a pin drop...
Teachers and Educators
According to a news report, a certain private school in Washington was recently faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine, but after they put on their lipstick, they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints.Every night the maintenance man would remove them, and the next day the girls would put them back.Finally the principal decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night (you can just imagine the yawns from the little princesses).To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, she asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required.He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaned the mirror with it.Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.There are teachers .... and then there are educators.
He Would Not Stay for Me, and Who Can Wonder?
He would not stay for me, and who can wonder?
He would not stay for me to stand and gaze.
I shook his hand, and tore my heart in sunder,
And went with half my life about my ways.
A.E. Housman
He would not stay for me to stand and gaze.
I shook his hand, and tore my heart in sunder,
And went with half my life about my ways.
A.E. Housman
Small Moments
From John F. Kennedy
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
