Oh! Christmas Tree?
OK, I know our US version of Christmas is nuts. It’s mid-December and most of us are already exhausted, not to mention way past our saturation point with holiday music. Even the good songs get on our nerves. Still, there are some traditions that usher in the season thoughtfully, nostalgically, even quietly. Watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” is one of those traditions for me. Making snicker doodles and wearing my Mom’s and Aunt Louise’s Christmas pins are two others.
The Christmas tree and I, on the other hand, have a not-so-quiet, love-hate-love relationship. I love the idea of getting the tree up and decorated. I hate the process of wrestling with the awkward box and tree parts. Truth be told, I’ve usually lost my personality by the time all three tiers are connected and settled in the corner of the family room. When I can’t locate the electric plugs buried somewhere in the center, the next thing I lose is my religion, but not for long. Every year, unwrapping ornaments that all tell good stories saves the day.
One of my favorite Advent traditions (the season that leads up to Christmas day) is focusing on light. Right after we turn our clocks back an hour and right before the Farmer’s Almanac reports the longest night of the year – we plug in our outside decorations, light candles, and, of course, enjoy those twinkling Christmas trees. I love this; I need this.
So, imagine my dismay one evening when I noticed a strand of lights had gone out – right smack dab in the middle of my Christmas tree. Hey, no big deal; the last 21 months have taught me to adapt, so I cleverly rearrange the ornaments and tinsel. Ta Dah! The gap between strands three and six is barely noticeable. Two nights later, strand five catches my attention; it’s brighter than the rest – a stark, clear, white that shouts for attention. “Hey, watch me; this is what I look like right before I burn out. Enjoy me while you can!” Blink. Flash. Fizzle. Lights out.
Oh, this is just perfect – TWO strands of lights are gone – both in the center third of what was my favorite Christmas decoration. What is this, a living parable of my life? I can’t possibly disguise this mess now; my Christmas tree looks like a reverse Oreo cookie. To top it off, this week I’m supposed to light the “Joy” candle on the Advent wreath. #you’veGOTtobekiddingme
While this ordeal has been exasperating, it’s not a complete loss. Staring at a half-lighted Christmas tree inspired me to write a new verse to a holiday classic (I went went the English version; I mean, what rhymes with tannenbaum?):
Oh, irony, Oh irony,
How funny is your trick on me. (repeat)
I’ll light the candle anyway,
Another Light has won the day!
Oh irony, Oh irony,
Your trick a gift turned out to be.
Think it’ll catch on? My favorite Christmas special star (who also struggled with Christmas trees), captures my sentiments exactly: “good grief!”