Hunting for the Perfect Christmas Tree

One Christmas, we didn't decorate fully for Christmas until December 22 because we would not all be together until that day, and we had a tradition to keep. We had put little things around the house, we even decorated the outside, but the tree would have to wait. It wasn't a lot different from the years past, but that's what made all of them special, and they still are special. The tradition of the event makes it something that we all look forward to. My girls and I always went Christmas tree hunting. In the past, my girls and I have had so much fun. It was mom and daughters tradition to go out and hunt for our Christmas tree. We still like the idea of a "real tree".

When my girls were younger, they couldn't wait. They would get up early anticipating the day. It was always a special day for us and continues to be so. The first thing we would do was go out and have breakfast (cooking breakfast is a Christmas day tradition). As we sat there, we would discuss the type of tree we wanted. How tall it should be, whether it should be flocked or not. We would discuss whether it should be really tall or really wide or maybe both. Our discussions always ended with them laughing at their father. He could not see why it would take us the entire day to buy a tree. He could leave home at 8 am and be back at 8:15 am with a tree-well he thought it was a tree. He could not understand that we had to find the "perfect tree", the one that all of us could agree on.

After breakfast, we would be on our way. We would stop at certain lots that looked good from the street. Some lots were not worthy of our attention, they didn't look good from the street-there was no street appeal. The three of us would get out and start our search; we searched in rain, sleet, snow and even the hot sun. We would each pick out different trees, walk around them, have the salesman stand them up straight, shake them, even smell them-they must smell good. Then we would be on our way to the next lot and/or nursery. You can't buy the first tree that catches your eye. We would playfully fight over the radio. I would want Christmas music and they would want whatever. Even when they put on Christmas music, well you know there is Christmas music and there's real Christmas music. We would talk about the things we would like for Christmas, and the things we would probably give to others.

Then before we knew it, it was would be time for lunch. We would go to one of those girlie places that my husband doesn't like. We would sit and talk some more. Then we would decide it was time to move forward. There would be things that would make us all laugh; there were things that would cause us to pause for a moment. Then of course there was their father. He could make them laugh no matter what. Their favorite saying was and still is, "Remember when dad….?" They would tell of Christmas presents that he somehow though someone would like. They decided early in life that he should become the gift card king.

After lunch, we would be on the hunt again. We would have gone through most of Tarrant County and found some really nice trees, maybe even one that we might put in our home. About 6 pm, we'd go back to the place where we saw the best tree. We'd have the guy tie it on our car and off we would go. We still remember when we put a 6 footer in a Mazda 626.

All decorations are the same each year, we just add to them each year. Each one has a special meaning. We even have our favorites. Some are made of paper that the girls made in elementary and kindergarten. As we put on the last decoration and plug in the lights, it seems that all is right with the world. We've always thought we had the best tree, and on that 22nd day of December, the lot was closing and we got the tree for free. That's not what made it special, it was so special because it was the last time that we three would be able to have our tradition of Christmas tree hunting. We've added a little man and decided the tradition should go on. It's now three ladies and a little man Christmas tree hunting--hopefully making memories and traditions for him to continue.