“It is too much work to put up the Christmas tree,” my dad said sitting from
HIS worn in and worn out plush chair that had conformed to his body after all
these years. “Don’t be a scrooge,”
I said half jokingly, but whole truth. I continued on decorating
the Christmas tree by myself, while my father kept firmly planted in his
seat. I would not let him rain on my
parade. I never let anyone do that to me
anyway. At least eight years
ago or more was the last time the Wu crew put up the five foot Christmas tree
adorned with childhood ornaments, tinsel, blinking colorful lights, and a gauzy
star to top the tree. Once the Christmas
tree disappeared in the red brick house that I grew up in, the Christmas
decorations were gone, too. We also
stopped going into New York City the day after Christmas at least five years
ago, because it took too much time, money, and energy out of us. We just wanted
to be lazy. The only tradition we kept
up with was four stockings that I decorated with glitter glue to our names that
hung over our non-existent fireplace. Our
gifts ended up circling an exercise bike and bamboo tree that replaced the once
five-foot tree that seemed so tall and huge to me when I was a tiny tyke
toddler and then little girl. At my fully
grown 4’11”, the 5’ tree had always seemed tall to me. When I moved out on
my own, I bought my very own two-footer tree that I nicknamed “Spruce.”Every
year after Thanksgiving, I cracked open the musty cardboard box that contained
ornaments from my childhood. If my
parents weren’t going to use them, then I would. I dressed “Spruce” myself with these precious
ornaments I grew up with AND new ornaments that I was given over the years from
special people who have come, gone, and stayed. While corny Christmas music played in the
background, I swooned over “Spruce,” hung the jingle-belled wreath outside my
door, taped up Christmas cards (a dying doing for many in this digital age), and
placed Christmas decorations all over my apartment. This year was the first year I had my kitty
cat Ricky watching my every move with saucer-wide eyes as I pranced around
making my own traditions. I was surprised
and impressed that he didn’t try to attack the Christmas tree that was tempting
with hanging ornaments. I’m sure he
thinks it is a very fancy lamp. To me, Christmas was
NOT Christmas without a Christmas tree.
Growing up and even after all these years, I have forgotten the gifts I
was given, but ALWAYS remembered Christmas crack of mornings of us ripping open
the shiny and holiday-adorned wrapping paper and then gorging on a huge
homemade breakfast. I try to recall the
traditions that we have in our family, and realize that we do not have any except
talking, eating, sleeping, and feasting….not necessarily in this order. I had always been the one initiating and
trying to duplicate the sappy and saccharine Hallmark movie Christmases with my
family and even my friends, but I see now that Christmas is NOT always picture
perfect. Christmas can be a very lonely,
stressful, and even sad time for many. More
than that, traditions that we create or that somehow just happen change and
even fall apart because life and people change.
I know now that when my parents are no longer here that I will volunteer
at a Church or a soup kitchen to help those who are in need. People move, leave, and die. Last night, I stopped
by at my parents place. I was in a
grouchy and tired mood from running around everywhere, but my grouchiness dissipated
when my Dad and Stepmom pushed a button to reveal blinking and beautiful
glittering lights stringed on our red stockings and on a nearly three-footer
Christmas tree. I could not believe
it! A Christmas tree was back in the Wu
household! It was a sight to behold! A beauty that left me speechless and
sentimental! A feeling that Christmas
was here! Old
traditions. New traditions. These traditions match our ever-changing life
and world. What are some
traditions that you have with the people you love? How did certain traditions come about with
your family or friends? Are there
certain traditions out of obligation?
What traditions have changed over the years for you and do you miss them
or happy to do without them? When do you
feel that Christmas is REALLY here? Wishing you and your
loved ones a very Merry Christmas full of blessings and good tidings! Keep smilin’, Mary ;-) |
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