Our humble little tree. Frankly, it's as much an investment in my own mental health as the nights get longer and the days get colder; the smell is divine aromatherapy along with the glitter and gleam of ornaments in the lights. I'm looking forward to my first coffee in the rocking chair next to it in the morning, teaching my students next to it for the rest of the month, and of course, my 15th Annual Winter Holiday Livestreams on Sunday Dec. 15th. I'm also hoping that these rambunctious cats don't destroy it, but if you see the strings, you can see I'm taking no chances. (It's also about a third less ornamented than usual, same reason!).
It's long been a family tradition to get a Fraser fir locally, but usually grown in western NC. A bonus this year to know that our humble investment at least helped a little bit in the Helene-hurt southern Appalachians. And of course, the real delight is the three of us lighting and decorating it while the Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack brings the joy.
I'm not good at the details of religious texts, but I seem to recall that the first Sunday of Advent is Hope. That is fitting. Hope is one of the stars hanging on our tree, and the quiet flame that keeps me going when things get dark.
Whether or not you have a lovely smelling live tree large or little like ours, or one of those big beautiful artificial ones that looks perfect every year, may yours bear witness to beautiful memories this holiday season, and above all, may it glow brightly with the Hope of the season too.
