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The Tree Meaning of Christmas
January 12, 2010 - The Tree Meaning of Christmas
By Jennifer Wightman & Friends
The most wonderful (or stressful) time of the year is upon us again. And this weekend my family and I are planning to pick out our Christmas tree. Each ornament has a story. The one that says Breckenridge, CO is a keepsake from the trip we took with my college friends and our families. Last year three of us got to sharing our Christmas tree shopping stories via email. I’m moved to share them with all of you now. These should be read with a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of wine and a good dose of sarcasm.
It all started with a message from Kim in Colorado…
“We’ve been thinking of you all this past weekend. We went up to the mountains on Saturday and cut down the perfect Blue Spruce! Our Breckenridge ornament was a highlight for sure. We put it right in front so we can continue to relive the memories all month long. –Kim”
Then Pamela in Ohio responded…
“Well - our story goes like this...
I was not in the mood to put up our big tree so I dragged this Charlie Brown tree up from the basement - half the lights worked and half didn't. It is about as tall as I am and crooked. No ornaments - and then last night I remembered our new one from Colorado! Grace hung it on the tree and that is the only ornament hanging this year.
I too thought of all of you - as Grace, Ella and I stared at our tree with one ornament. We left it like that and NO ONE in this house has said a single word about the tree like there is nothing wrong with it...as if that is the way it is supposed to be. The ornament went on and the kids walked away. No one wondered where the rest were. Ella did ask why the tree was crooked………I have no answer. –Pamela”
Then Tricia in Ohio chimed in…
“If it makes you feel any better - we did our usual - go to pick out a tree with somebody unhappy - this year it was Kate - she was actually crying as we got in the car - which made me go into my lecture...." I don't ask for much - can't you guys do this ONE thing for me, just be happy when we go get the Christmas tree...so on and so on.... You know the one!
Of course they fought over each and every ornament! They kept "calling" which ones they get to put on. "I call the pickle" --- "I call the Colorado" ---then they would grab it and almost break it, before someone else could get it. Then I would yell. They fought like that over every ornament ... right down to the crappy ones that have absolutely no meaning to any of us! It was fun!
–Trish”
I stayed unusually quiet. Then Kim added…
“Now this is getting fun!
Here are the details of our Blue Spruce. We went up to the mountains; it was a cold and snowy day. We brought a sled to pull Aspen through the deep snow. Well, Aspen in all of her 3-year-old independence refused to ride in the sled. Other kids were having a ball with their parents pulling them. Not Aspen, NO WAY! The snow was deep, to her waist in some spots; it was cold and windy. She was soaking wet and shivering in a matter of minutes. But she persisted...
Finally I picked her up and threw her on the sled, "Just try it for God's sake, you'll like it!" Well, she started screaming, "I don't want to!” and stood up on the sled only to fall face first in the snow. Now, she’s crying twice as hard, she's twice as wet, twice as cold... But still, she insisted on walking herself. Can you say, STUBBORN???!!!!
We found an area with some nice trees and I started venturing off the trail (at Jay's suggestion) to find the perfect tree. Meanwhile, he continued on the trail with Aspen and the sled. I found a gorgeous tree...perfect! I hit the jackpot! I called for Jay to come back...nothing. I scream "JAY!!!!" Nothing. I knew if I left the tree I would never find it again! So, I continued screaming at the top of my lungs. Eventually he called back and he and Aspen walked close enough for us to talk. I said, "Where were you?" with attitude. This prompted him to launch into, “I have the sled and Aspen who refuses to ride...” I replied, "Well, why didn't you answer?" with even more attitude. He gave me "The Look"...you know, the one that says, “Shut up unless you want to have an all out war out here”. I walked away with our stubborn daughter and waited for him to cut down our perfect tree.
We got all the way back to our truck...THANK YOU GOD! I loaded up Aspen, tore off her wet clothes and left her practically naked and screaming in the truck, while it warmed up. My nerves and patience were just shot. If I opened the door, I knew I would say something I’d regret. Aspen would be fine, right? She was safe in there. Me on the other hand, I could have frozen to death in minutes!
Luckily Jay worked quickly and we loaded up the truck, jumped in, and sang Christmas carols all the way home!
-Kim”
It just keeps getting better! Trish now urged me to tell my story…
“Come on Jen - we need a good Wightman story! You gotta have something! Maybe you guys go to find a tree and Jaimie loses the keys ...then it could get really good from there ...maybe?!
-Trish”
Just for a little history, I never have a “simple” story to tell. Honestly, things don’t just happen to me, well they do but there’s always a crazy twist or unbelievable aspect to it. The phrase, “You cannot make this stuff up” has always applied perfectly to me!
I replied…
“Ok, since Trish is putting the pressure on, I'll tell you our tree story.
Lost keys, missed flights, flaming cars, as one who never does anything in a "normal" way this story blows away those past events.
The last week of Nov. Jaimie Wightman "declared" that we would buy our tree and decorate for Christmas on Sat. Dec. 1st. Being a little Grinchy, I figured I'd believe it when I saw it. He never takes the reins (pun intended) on the decorations. He loves them but I always have to get the ball rolling. Before kids, there were years that if I didn't get around to it and start pulling out decorations we were the only undecorated house on the street!
So, tree or no tree all I wanted for Christmas was to start a little tradition, which includes The Polar Express. So I reserved the book at the library. I'm trying my best not to get my hopes up on much decorating at all.
Well, much to my surprise the whole family headed out on Saturday at 4pm (no sense getting an early start) to begin our very Merry Christmas traditions.
By the time we got to the library it was closed, I was disappointed but not shattered. Jaimie was quiet. So now I'm thinking, "Yep, here it comes. The true grumpy “forget it” attitude will explode in one of us and it'll be the same old story! Or the car will break down, lug nuts lost in the dark or the tree lot will be closed. I was ready for a typical curve in the Wightman road.
Then Kate's little 3 year old voice started singing from the back seat. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star turned into Jingle Bells and all the tension was gone. We sang and laughed with the spirit of Christmas!
We arrived at the tree lot (still open =) and chose a beautiful tree. They even took our picture (I hadn't even thought about bringing the camera). They loaded the tree on the van and EVERYONE was still cheerful in spite of the cold!
When we arrived home I expected Jaimie to either leave the tree on top of the van or on the front porch. Nope, he moved the furniture in the living room and then brought the tree stand and crates of decorations down from the attic. He had that tree up WITH colored lights on it just in time for the girls to see it before going to bed. They (and I) were in awe.
On Sunday we hung the Breckenridge ball in a prominent spot! Jaimie fed Kate & Emma lunch while I ran some errands. An hour or so later I came home to a house of napping girls, a completely decorated tree, AND the stairwell done up with greenery and stockings. He'd been true to his promise! He was St. Nick!
That night, after bath, the girls, cozy and clean in their "footsie" PJs, settled into our laps for the Big Surprise... Daddy read The Polar Express and then together we all watched it on TV with the Christmas tree glowing. Only snow falling outside our window could have made it more perfect!
Now, I'm sure you're expecting the typical, "Ok, just kidding, here's what really happened" but NO, all of the above is true! It's a Christmas miracle on Dogwood Drive! Jaimie is even excited to get the outside lights up ASAP! This is really true! Can you believe it? It brings tears to my eyes! That's why I wasn't so forthcoming with our "Tree Story". I didn't want to brag =)
-Jenni”
PS – May you each have a Christmas miracle!! Ho! Ho! Ho!
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