We do not have a Christmas tree that would ever be featured in a magazine. Nope, no color co-ordinated matching ornaments for us. Instead we have a yearly scrapbook display of our family’s adventures.
On our tree you’ll see grade-school homemade ornaments and those carefully made by me for each child. You’ll see sparkling and dancing nutcrackers from neighbors, a soccer ball globe gifted after a terrific season. We have candy canes a plenty on the branches, the greater the variety the better – a tradition left-over from when the kids were very young and they were allowed to pick a candy cane (any one they wanted) off the tree to munch on while the snow fell outside.
You’ll find a Budweiser ornament from the brewery in our town along with ornaments from Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts – all very important stops for parents of many children.
Holiday necklaces gathered from parades and parties are draped on the trees, as festive as any garland.
We have a glass ornamental bust of Alexander Hamilton, the man our relative shot in a duel. “Merry Christmas, Alexander, once again, we’re very sorry for our family’s indiscretions.”
And up near the very tip top of our tree? You’ll find an unused golden ticket for the Polar Express – reminding us all that holiday magic surely exists.
You just have to look for it.
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Wendy Thomas writes about the lessons learned while raising children and chickens in New Hampshire. Contact her at [email protected]
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