According to my schedule, the Christmas tree was to be dragged out of its oversized bin in the basement, aka "the tree coffin" (so called because its resemblance is unmistakable) - and put up in the living room over a week ago! That didn't happen. The task fell victim to the "one thing lead to another" syndrome, an affliction that persisted all the way into Thursday. This past weekend the tree became a rush job. It had to be up by Sunday because the grandchildren and their parents were coming to do the decorating. Well, we got it done, but it was not the slow gentle roll out accompanied by Christmas music and memories that I planned.
But I have another tree, one that is mine alone and in the quiet of Sunday night, I put up this very special tree. In 1992 my mother bought me the Swarovski Annual Christmas Ornament, a snowflake that year.
She did so every year until the thin fingers of dementia began to invade and disrupt her thinking. There is a five year gap until my husband took up the tradition of giving me the annual ornaments. Each one is stored in its original box and the boxes are stacked in chronological order in a cupboard.
I take each ornament out, in order of course, polish with the special Swarovski gloves and hang it on the metal tree, always pausing to allow any memories of that particular year float to the surface.
Not too many specific stories came to mind this year, but still it was delightful spend time recalling each year. And now I have once again a sparkling reminder of just how good my life has been and how fortunate I am. I couldn't follow my schedule, my agenda got hijacked by other stuff, yet at the end of the day I was able to find comfort.
And joy shone all around!
©2025 April Hoeller
Looks beautiful!
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