Don't eat that!

Putting up the Christmas tree has been a long time tradition in many families. It was in ours. Every year, we got all the old stuff out of the attic. Usually they sent me up there through all the cobwebs because I was the smallest. We had real trees for many years. I don't remember going to get them, but I do remember the needles. I swear, I used to get them imbedded in my knees in June because they weave themselves into carpeting.

Eventually, I got married and we started our own traditions. My ex and I always put the tree up together. He had to do most of the lights, because I can't reach the top of a big tree. My mom had given me some of the bulbs from when she and my dad had first married. I still have some of them, and they are very special to me. I have a few still from the first year of my own marriage.

I have ornaments from when my child was born, and one for each pet. Some were gifts. Some are from people no longer in my life. For a few years, I added one from Tiffany every year, figuring that would be a nice thing to leave to the child. She didn't seem too enthused, so I stopped buying them. I don't think I have added any ornaments in quite a few years. A couple of years ago I gave some of the really old ones to my nieces and nephews, and I downsized my tree.

For a while, I didn't even have time for a tree. I was spending most weekends and holidays at the home of my former boyfriend, and he didn't "do" any holidays. No tree there. I was working most holidays, keeping the pedophiles and other child abusers in line.

Now, I am retired and have my little tree. I put it up usually by myself. This year I needed a little assistance from Stella. You know Stella? Artois? I was feeling a bit of sadness when I unwrapped some of these ornaments of my life history. I found my baby ornament - a cheap red plastic santa with a glued on piece of fuzz for his beard. I have always loved it. Molly wants to love it too, so I have to keep it higher on the tree than I used to.

Knowing I would have a little trouble this year getting the tree up, I bought a CD to listen to TSO. My CD player died. I put the CD in my laptop, and listened to TSO for a while.

After two visits with Stella, I switched to The Killers.

Once I shoved the top of the tree up Father Christmas's ass, I knew it was over and I could sit back and relax and move on to some more pleasant memories.

It's always bittersweet, but I don't want to lose the tradition.