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Thank God for sons. My oldest, Patrick, offered to do something so wonderful this Christmas, so stupendous and magical, I’m pinching myself. Okay, the real reason he’s doing it is because I’m incompetent. But I’m all right with that. In fact, I couldn’t be happier.

Patrick is putting up our Christmas tree.

No doubt, my son wanted to re-create the Yuletide memories of his childhood. The trees then were big, wondrous affairs, taking up entire corners of the living room. We decorated them in sparkly, colored ornaments, candy canes, and sweet hand-made trinkets from school made of popsicle sticks and red and green cardboard.

But the years passed, and something strange happened. I grew tired of doing it. Maybe because I had a husband who travelled a lot and teenage sons who became too cool for Christmas, the task of bedecking a full-grown tree fell to me.

Before long, I started getting “creative.”

The huge fir was replaced by a monstrously ugly full-grown artificial tree that came in three easy-to-assemble pieces. Then came the era of the small real trees (which I called ‘fun size”), but always looked sad and shrunken. Then I tried fully assembled, “sparkly” fake trees from Home Depot. These were pretty, but as I came to learn, had enough loose glitter to scare off Lady Gaga.

Last year, at my wit’s end, I decorated a Ficus tree. Yes, I trimmed a large plant. I thought it looked fine, but everyone in the house (it turns out) was secretly horrified.

In stepped Patrick. After forty years of being in charge of Christmas trees, I got my notice. I’ve been sacked. And I couldn’t be more grateful.

I reminded Patrick that when he says, “He’ll do the tree,” that means everything – buying from the local farm, dragging it into the house, setting it up, putting on lights, decorating, making sure it stays watered. I also reminded him of the backend of this project – taking everything down and sweeping up the pine needles.

He agreed.

Now for the first time in my married life, I intend to sit back and watch the magic happen… maybe with a fire going and carols playing. Maybe with a glass of bubbly Prosecco in my hand.

I told Patrick he doesn’t have to get me anything else for this holiday. We’re good.  My son saw a need (okay, a big need) and stepped in to fill it. I’ll be forever grateful.

Sometimes I think of that little toddler who loved those big trees of the past. Now he’s a bearded young man, making it all happen for his dear old mom. Funny, how despite my going through trees like Zsa Zsa Gabor went through husbands, I still have those handmade popsicle stick and cardboard ornaments, more ragged with the years, but I could never throw out.

I guess it helps to be incompetent after all.

 

Is there a Christmas chore you could do without? Comments are always welcome and if you like, please share.

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Comments(22)

  1. Oh, your story is proof that there ARE rewards to getting older! (And having raised a kid right.)
    We’ve stopped putting up outdoor Christmas lights. We live back in the woods, so no one sees them but us, and we live in a two-story house, so it’s kind of dangerous to get them up. We’ll probably put lights around the lantern pole on the driveway, but otherwise…..

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Nancy, Its all about finding the sweet spot between doing what you love and putting something Christmasy out there.

  2. I can’t really comment on Christmas chores (say no more!) But the tree – now that has a history. I used to love our real tree as a child but my parents never bought it early enough. So when I was 13 I went to buy it myself from our local post office. And I have just googled to check my memory and yes, where we lived in the UK it hit -25 that December and I am pretty sure it was -25 that day!! As an adult, I always have insisted we have the tree 2 weeks before Christmas but since 2017 it all changed. When I discovered my colour and pattern sensitivity I knew why the magic hadn’t been enough. Now I find the have to find the magic in the simplest things. I just bought myself a Jellycat canada goose to sit on the hall bench!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Jennie, I’d love to see that Jellycat canadian goose! Sounds lovely.

  3. I’ve decorated a ficus! Great post, Laurie.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Shari, Sounds like you’re a woman after my own heart!

    • Lea Sylvestro

    • 3 years ago

    Yay for Patrick! I love this piece….Christmas really is such a time of memories and nostalgia. I love that the memories you and Randy created for Patrick have sparked this wish in him to help you! I think you wrote a piece once about that glitter-wild Home Depot tree? The ficus idea does sound sort of horrifying, no offense! The Zsa Zsa Gabor comparison is great. I love the image of you relaxing with a glass of Prosecco, enjoying the magic of your beautiful tree! Much love and thanks for this great piece! XXOO

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Lea, Thanks so much. I didn’t mind the ficus, but apparently my bar is so low, everyone else was horrified. No wonder I was fired.

  4. A Christmas chore I could do without? All of them. My Daughter, Tiana, is our decorator and when she lived with us, took over much of the burden (I consider it a burden) of decorating for various holidays. From lighting the house for Christmas through to digging an honest-to-goodness grave in our front yard for Halloween. (At least she SAID it was for Halloween…) Now she has her own house to decorate. Sigh.
    So we’re back to me. It took me ALL DAY to set up the tree and decorate it this year. (Last year, we left immediately after Christmas for our winter holiday, so the stockings never got taken down. When we got home, it was right at the start of COVID, so I said I was leaving the stockings up till we could all get together again. They’re still up. So one less thing to do. Hmmm…I may be on to something…)
    So does Paul bring you treats while you’re watching this amazing decorating happen in front of you? And does he deliver?
    Asking for a friend…

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Diane, You’re so funny. Hmmm… leaving decorations up all year! You might be onto something. I bet I can get Paul to whip up some treats! Wish you could be here to share.

  5. Being Jewish I grew up without a tree. I would go to my BFF’s house to help decorate theirs and even had my own ornament. So when I married a Catholic that same BFF presented me with my own crystal decoration for my trees moving forward. Now 13 years later I have come to realization that the whole Christmas tree thing (and all the decorations) is a giant pain. I’m over it. So I don’t blame you one bit! My husband doesn’t now it but I am buying a fake tree after the holidays this year…on sale.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Lauren, So glad I’m not the only one. I find Christmas very labor intensive, one of the reasons I prefer Thanksgiving (but still love Christmas when it’s finally “in place.”)

  6. Much yes to this. Tree, lights — bring me a competent person who will put me out of my inept misery!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Paula, You and me both!

  7. Ok. A ficus tree? What WERE you thinking? LOL

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Carol, I guess I’m the only one who can live with that! Laughing.

  8. What a sweet son! Lucky mama and I hope you enjoy that tree to your heart’s content . . .

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Thank you, Kristine! I intend to.

  9. It’s always nice to have creative and talented kids around. Happy Holidays!

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Rebecca, That it is. Happy Holidays to you too!

  10. I would love to have a full real tree again. Alas, I’m too tired and my son lives in another state. But I am loving my fake ones so far because I’ve been having fun with them….pink. I get very pink, pre-lit Christmas trees that have a Whovian bend to them. I love it. Although, this year, sadly the tree was broken and we went with a silver one with wider branches. I’m not loving it but it’ll do for this year. Next year, it’ll be the patio tree. LOL.

      • Laurie Stone

      • 3 years ago

      Jennifer, I love the more “creative” trees. A pink one sounds fantastic.

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