For the past ten years, Christmas trees have been an ongoing source of friction between my wife and me. I always had a real tree growing up, and I love the smell, and the full, irregular look of real trees. She always had a fake tree, and since she’s about one step short of Adrian Monk, she REALLY likes that they don’t drop needles. Our first two Christmases, we had a little fake tree because we were just in a little apartment. But after we bought our first house, she consented to get a real tree since we had more room. And since then, I’ve managed to convince her to get a real tree. Every year, she says, “This is the last year I’m going to do this.” Fortunately, our kids have grown up with the real trees, so they like them, which gave me a little leverage to keep the tradition alive. The girls feel like regular connoisseurs as we poke through the trees, looking for just the right size, smell, and color.
This is the moment I finally and probably permanently lost the battle:
The Moment I Lost the Tree Wars
My 1-year-old son is not visible in this picture. That’s because he was UNDER the tree (okay, we actually pulled him out before we went and got the camera, but one minute earlier, he was under the tree). He had climbed up the step stool I had used to put the angel on top. He sat and looked admiringly at the tree for a moment, then he LEAPED right into the tree, and brought the whole thing down on top of himself (he’s an adventurous little guy, if you haven’t deduced). This was a big, heavy 9-foot douglas fir. Fortunately, he was fine except for a few more scratches to add to the already substantial collection on his face (other contributors: a bush, the carpet, a pen, and the driveway; this was all within 3 days), and most of the ornaments even survived. So in the end, it was more funny than scary.
We tried to right the thing, but it was off balance now. I finally relented and pulled the thing outside, and we went out and bought a smaller, lighter artificial tree. And we put the step step stool away.
LOL! Thank goodness the tree felling didn’t cause any serious harm to your son! I grew up with live trees, so I sympathize with your sentiments. However, since our marriage 19 years ago we have always had a “faux” tree for various reasons, and I have to say that I am now a believer. The Pro list definitely outweighs the Con. Especially now that we have a pre-lit tree. Christmas Harmony reigns
hint: The Salt City Candle company makes a wonderful “fir tree” candle that fills our home with the same glorious smell from our youth.
Happy Christmas!
I’m glad he wasn’t hurt. My husband would completely agree with you–and I just plain don’t care one way or the other, as long as I don’t have to cut down or put up the decorations, I’m very happy.
MoSop—I’ll have to try the candles. I don’t think I can do Christmas without the smell permeating my house. And at least we will get to visit my parents on Christmas Eve. They have a monstrous 15-foot noble fir (“The biggest one we could find,” my Mom commented).
Sam—Does your husband actually cut down the tree himself? I’m jealous. All we have around here is cedar, and you couldn’t pay me to have one of those cancerous growths in my house.