Christmas Trees

When I think of Christmas, presents are not always the things I remember the most. Yeah, I remember the time we snook into one of my siblings rooms and played with our Pfisher Price Barn and Airport. I remember sneaking into mom and dads room to discover their hiding places, but when it comes to the real spirit of Christmas I remember when we would hunt for the perfect Christmas tree. A couple of years we got a permit and cut our own tree down. Oh yes, the hot cocoa and chili, tying the tree to the top of the van, smell of pine sap on our hands, left a lasting impression upon my mind.
We would take the tree home and decorate it with ornaments, usually the glass balls of varying colors. It was exciting and it was my dad's way of ushering in the Christmas Season. He was not much of a present buyer, I suppose I grew up to be like him in that way.
I don't remember what we did on my mission for a tree. We spent most of our Christmases at members homes and talking to family as they celebrated at home. It was good.
Getting married was a new adventure in Christmas. Our first Christmas tree was a sad little house plant that made Charlie Brown's tree look majestic. We wrapped garland around it and tried putting ornaments on its branches, but it would have none of that. The next few years we had no money for trees, so we waited until a couple of days before Christmas when the tree lots would abandon their lots leaving trees behind. We were so happy to have what ever we got, it was so much fun.
 A few years later we could afford a tree so we bought them, but the prices seemed to be going up so we would search all across the valley to find the best cheapest tree we could find, and we brought it home. I think the funnest part of the Christmas tree was hunting for one. Then one year after discussing the price of trees we decided to commit a near unpardonable sin...we bought an artificial tree. it looked real enough when we bought it but it certainly did not smell real and I kinda ached inside whenever we brought it out, but really did not detract from the season too much so we used it
Then one year my reminiscing of Christmas tree permits brought about the desire to go for a live tree again, this time instead of putting money into the tree lot we would buy a permit and spend the money on a new adventure. So, for the past four years we have gone back to the real Christmas trees, and the adventures in mountains for trees.
Christmas trees have always been apart of our Christmas celebration and I will always remember them for the memories we have created along the way. Someday when the children are grown I hope they will take with them those memories that will lead them to honor the tradition of the Christmas tree.