Trimmed Tree

The tree is trimmed. Decorating for Christmas shouldn’t be cathartic, but in my experience everything done during a migraine is cathartic. Besides, would it really be Christmas if I didn’t break down crying while decorating? Of course, once the Imitrex kicked in the world returned to normal proportions, light stringing resumed, and eventually hundreds of shatter proof bulbs were on the tree.

I discovered shatter proof bulbs the same year I discovered the artificial tree. I was decorating a museum full of trees with the merchandising team from a local department store, as well as a few florists, and artists. While I was adorning my tree with shiny plastic balls I realized how lucky I am to have learned the fine art of the Christmas tree. The scale of the bulbs, the number of lights, the practicality of bulbs that don’t break, and the importance of using floral wire to attach the decorations so that even if the tree is knocked over it can be set to right without a thing being out of place.

Usually I’m fanatic for authenticity. I love antiques. I covet handcrafted items. I really do think wood toys are better. In this case, though, I have embraced the modern replacement. Because of these beautiful plastic orbs I can let my toddler hang as many ornaments as she wants. After Christmas I can toss them in the storage tub and know that they will be intact next year.

I still have a huge box of antique glass Christmas bulbs. Most years they stay in the box. Every year I imagine I will figure out a way to display them, and every year the pins on Pinterest of all of the display options remain abstract ideas, one more year away from becoming reality.

In the meantime, I have a tree. It’s beautiful. It’s shiny. And it will withstand a typhoon.

#Christmas #ornaments