The Leaves on our Tree

I'm pretty sure Martin thought I was nuts, and I KNOW his co-workers did. At the beginning of the Holiday season, I developed a wild-hair for what I considered to be one of my best ideas yet for one of my favorite holiday traditions- displaying my bevy of Christmas cards.

Talking to my friend, Jennifer, I asked her husband to aid in picking out a tree limb the next time he went to the deer lease. I explained that I was going to decorate it, and hang my Christmas cards from it. "Okay," she said, "but just be prepared if he comes back with something other than what you wanted...." I assured her it would be fine... I had high hopes for my Christmas card tree. Frankly, I didn't really think he would come back with it, but sure enough, a few days later, Larry came into work and told Martin, "Hey, I've got your wife's Charlie Brown branch in my garage- you'll need to come pick it up because it's too big for my car." Well, Martin then enlisted his coworker, Tom, who lived closer to Larry and Jennifer, to head over and pick it up. Several days later, said branch was in my garage. Well, actually, two branches. One was very- shall we say- tall and thin, with lots of spindly looking briar like branches. I can only assume that it's a Texas Mesquite or something. The other, was just what I was looking for.... wide with branches and lots of space for hanging. Martin then informed that the bigger one was from Tom's yard, because when he saw the one from the deer lease, he took pity on it, and sent a bigger one. He also asked Martin for pictures of said tree, because he wasn't sure how any of this would work out.

I took the nice branch in the back yard- well, the empty lot next to the house, and proceeded to spray paint it a nice metallic silver color. The construction workers tried not to stare. I propped it up in a flower pot with some bricks leftover from our house, and then brought my prize into the house. I lovingly wrapped each branch with 200 white lights. And then, I thought, "I don't know what to think. Do I love it or hate it?" I hung our last year's Christmas card on it for effect, and stepped back to admire.... still not sure. Martin wasn't sure either. I decided to let it be, and see if it grew on me...

Days went by, and the Christmas cards began to arrive. Every day, I ran to the mail box, and ripped into each Christmas card that came in, hole punching each one, and hanging them on the tree with red satin ribbon with a peppermint design. Pretty soon, I was running out of ribbon, and the tree was filling in. I started to look at it differently. Every card that came in was someone dear to our family, and they became the leaves on our tree. I started to see this tree as my Family Tree.

Today, Martin grabbed the mail, and came in exclaiming that we had a boat load of cards. I think even he was excited to open them. We took turns, opening the 8 or 9 hugs that had come in today. I read each return address, knowing who it was that waited inside, and said, "There's Wayne and Mae, there's Grandma and Grandpa, there's Jamie and Melissa, Alisa and Jason," and on, and on... all before opening the envelopes. My eyes stung as I opened Uncle O.D.'s- knowing what a gesture it must've been for him to send them out this year without Aunt Doris; and again, as I saw the picture enclosed from Susan and Uncle O.D. in her card. But when I opened the one from my Grandparents, the dam broke, and I started to cry. Just seeing my Grandma's slanted writing on the card brought home the reality that I won't be there to hug them this year.... and as their Christmas present for the family fell out, the water works poured. Martin just hugged me, and didn't say a word, which is just what I needed.

And so, as I hung the cards on the tree today, I cried as I looked at or imagined each and everyone of your faces, and the sentiments that came with them. I'm so thankful for the Christmas season... a reason to get love mail from everyone! And I don't care what anyone thinks- I've decided I love my tree.