When it is something you do often enough, people refer to it as a habit or ritual. For me, taking down our Christmas tree, is an honor. My three “girls” are usually visiting with Val’s mama…good thing I suppose, for my language can get…well…..interesting…as I take down the holiday decorations. I enjoy putting UP all of the “stuff”…partly because I love outdoing my neighbors, but taking DOWN the Christmas tree -- is what is really special to me.
Our main tree is eclectic, with a few ornaments dating back some 40 years. As I carefully remove each piece, a memory flashes by – so it takes me a considerable amount of time to finish – but it is time I cherish. You see – life is measured in years – but living is measured in moments…. and I gotta tell ya’ – mine have been pretty good. So if I seem a little sentimental – don’t call the “paddy wagon” for me – I am still just as hardnosed as usual. However, this one time a year simply forces me to appreciate my life.
There is a broken ornament on the tree, purchased at a Christmas time visit to Six Flags Over Georgia when Val and I lived in Atlanta. I was a little too much into being macho then – and I did not wear enough warm gear. It was the coldest time I can ever remember – Val and I still laugh about it ( she reminds our daughters that I am not near as tough as I think I am) . The ornament WAS a circle enclosing Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ. Dorothy has, (over the years), been lost. The circle remains however, and every year, I smile when I place it back in its storage box. That one stays with us – even if I have to duct tape it.
There are a couple of “stolen” ornaments on the tree – ones that once were a fixture on Val’s tree when she was a child. Not real sure her mother knows the ornaments are gone – so if you know my mother-in-law – don’t tell her…. Those two ornaments remind Val of her life as a child. I am extra careful when I place those back in the storage box…they are plastic…but the memory is important – so I treat “them” with care.
There are 2 engraved ornaments that Val gave me – back in the “poor old days”, when ornaments were about all we could afford. I promised her in 1984 – a richer future – poorer would have been tough. I think we have done ok, but the ornaments are a reminder of how thankful I should be for our life and her…sometimes (more than sometimes) I forget. Those ornaments are ones that usually go on the bottom – for those couple of pieces represent the foundations of our life.
Some of the more “interesting” ornaments are the ones our daughters have made. One is from Carlee’s pre-school days, another from MattiLynn’s pre-school days. Wow – how those girls have grown! Perhaps, our girls will want to “steal” their ornament when each one moves on with life. I will still be tough enough to grapple over ‘em– although I may have to use my cane to “fight” them off….for now the ornaments are wrapped with care and placed away until next year.
As I was "taking down the tree" this week, I saw a few of the ornaments given to Val from some of her Girl Scout “children” of recent years. I know some of the girls gave them out of sheer respect ( a GS honor) for Val being the troop leader for so long. Many though, gave the ornaments as a symbol of loving return for the guidance Val has shown them. Perhaps some of the girls may not even remember giving the ornaments to her – but I know we do. The memories those ornaments bring to me, as well as the times our home welcomed the girls and their joyous laughter, their youthful innocence and even the drama that a roomful of future women bring, is still a time in my life I will cherish each coming year. I may not always get the floor clear quickly – but the happiness is crystal. How long will the celebrations continue, since our oldest has begun to worry about “coolness”? I have no idea – but I will always have the ornaments to remind me – just in case we all get a little too caught up with life.
One of my all-time favorites is a picture ornament of Carlee and me, taken at the first concert she ever attended. People told me I overpaid for those Taylor Swift tickets – and if truth be told, I guess I thought I did too. However, when that young singer came down the aisle, walked to a rotating stage only 30 feet from our seats and played the song “Fifteen”, I knew I would have paid much more. Money cannot often buy moments like that.
There is a picture ornament of Chuck (my brother) and me when we were little. Christmas morning looks a lot different now than it did then – but he is still with us each Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. Every year he is so generous to our family – this year perhaps we surprised him with a gift. If you are around Talladega on Feb 18, come watch him drive a race car!!!
We have ornaments from our trips to Gatlinburg, from our Disney World trips, a couple from our trips to the beach, even a few from our MANY trips to Wal-Mart. We have old ones, new ones, ones that do not match the décor and a couple of which I have no idea how “they” ended up on our tree. We have ones showing involvement in school, cheerleading, soccer, ice skating, band and of course, Girl Scouts. Some include pics – but many do not. We decorate with lots of other stuff too –like a collection of stuffed bears – 1 (or more) of which I have given Val each year since 1987 – this year the date had the 25th Anniversary imprinted on the foot – just seemed to fit….. All of this is just stuff to anyone else – but each ornament and decoration “paints” a memorable picture for me, with each movement I make, as I take down our Christmas tree.
Every year I choose a favorite ornament from the current year’s additions – something I suppose until now – only I knew about me. This year’s choice was easy for me – although the person who gave it to us - probably just did it out of duty. You see, in October my youngest daughter broke her foot. While carrying her around in a wagon @ Halloween was not easy since we live in the “valley of hills”, I was determined to keep as much pressure off of that foot as I could. I realize children have scrapes, bruises and breaks. Any other time – we would have simply worked through it – but this break was most likely going to keep her from ice skating in her very first performance on December 3rd. We did everything we could – we carried her upstairs, downstairs, around the house - everywhere we could - just to keep her from walking. A couple of days before our pre-Thanksgiving trip to Gatlinburg, the boot was removed. The Dr. said the bone had healed, but the tendons and ligaments would be stiff. While she would be medically cleared to skate – she most likely would not have the strength to run – much less skate. MattiLynn – my little buddy of 50.4 pounds (DO NOT FORGET THE .4 she says) - had even gone to a few practices to watch her “team” practice and learn the new movements for the week. Her sister looked fabulous on the ice – as usual – which made it even tougher I am certain. While I felt that being there would ease the disappointment – it only made it worse. She did not watch the last 4 practices before the dress rehearsal. Val took both our "skaters" to dress rehearsal that Tuesday before the weekend show – we thought at least MattiLynn could get her costume and picture made with her “team”. Somehow, MattiLynn managed to stand up on the ice – while wobbly and often out of sync (or so I hear - I could not go) – she made it through the routine. Val texted me throughout the evening – updating me on the progress. The final practice was the Friday before the show and she had improved immensely. How? I have no idea. All I know is, I saw the effort in person! My little buddy’s shows that weekend took on a life of their own – she exits her first show with a slide across the floor in jest – and finishes her second one with a complete turnaround – just waving and smiling at a crowd – few of whom knew her story. Two in the crowd knew her story very well, but all Val and I could do at that point was a quick High-5 ---and of course ---a prayer of thanks!!! So what about the ornament, you ask? The ornament was actually a Christmas card from her orthopedic doctor’s office – an “ornament” that MattiLynn was so happy to get – because as our MVP (MattiLynn Vinicia Prince) says ….“those people fixed me so I could skate.” Yep, that one FOR SURE got wrapped and placed GENTLY on the top of the rest of my memorable ornaments.
As some of you know – I have a questionnaire that I have been compiling for future, little, one-track minded, twerps who will come to my door wanting to see either of my daughters. Up until this year, the form was only 109 questions long. This year I have added one more:
“Do you take down your Christmas tree?”
The answer to that question will say a lot about the Dad that little boy will need to be. Perhaps each Dad would be more involved in his child's life today if only he “HAD” to take down the Christmas tree each year.
May your "New Year" be as blessed as mine is now…..
Chip
