And the Fourth Wise Man brought an artificial tree, because the baby Jesus was allergic.
For the first time since I was a kid and talked my parents out of setting up our fake tree, my home is without a live tree for the holidays. Live being a bit of a misnomer, because uh… once you cut those things down, technically they’re dying. I’m consoling myself with that little factoid— the truth is, I miss having a “dying” tree in my home. A fir tree decaying is a marvelous thing!
However, it was time. IZ is terribly allergic, I am mildly so, the boy is showing all the signs of being addicted to Clariten by the time he’s 14, and Sophie has yet to meet an allergy she didn’t have. I’m going to have to console myself with using Method hand-soap (they never test on Reindeer, dontcha know!) to get my fix of that fir-tree smell.
We’ve been meaning to do this for ages. A few years ago, IZ and I stumbled into the deal of the century. The Crate and Barrel in Palo Alto was selling all their display trees for $25. Nine feet of pre-lit marvel for the price of take-out. Only one problem: we had no way to get it back to Marin. So, we walked away from an allergy free Christmas and have been kicking ourselves ever since for not strapping the then 6 year old to the hood of the car.
Twenty-five dollars, what was I thinking?? A convincing faux tree can be expensive, to think I had one within my grasp and let a little thing like child safety get in the way. This is the way it goes sometimes–matching need and resources is tricky business. There is a direct correlation between my need for a tree and my lack of cash, it’s called December. However, I just don’t think about buying a tree in March. So, we’ve been avoiding taking the plunge and have been sick in the process every December, dreaming about the one that got away.
Until this year. My in-laws have come to our rescue, actually. They sent us the money to buy a lovely tree–seven feet of pre-lit loveliness. No more trees in the land fill. No more allergy induced drama during the holidays. No more bickering in the cold, no more “Try this one, no, try that one.” No more dropping pine needles, no more sap that won’t come out of the carpet, no more getting sloshed with moldy water during take-down. If I didn’t feel so disingenuous singing “O Tannenbaum”, this would be a complete win.
But I do. I’m not complaining. . . no I’m not. I’m just going to stand here by this tree and faux sneeze a few times— you know, for old time’s sake.
I’m sure the entire post was lovely, but I got hung up on one word: MARIN. Did I miss somewhere that you used to live in Marin County???? I grew up in Novato, the northernmost (and probably least “Marin-ish”) city there. Oh, that’s weird.
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Yep, yep. San Anselmo. 😀 And you’re so right about Novato. Sonoma County should annex it. :D~W
Oh, I hate the “ones that got away” they always end up so much better in memory don’t they? I bought a new tree last year…a 7ft. SKINNY pre-lit beauty that I now adore so very much!!
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Um, I’m not sure. I actually do think some of the things that got away are as good as I remember. 😉 ~W
We went with a fake one, too, a few years ago. Much to our daughters’ disdain. Fear of fire was my trigger. I’m just pissed I didn’t think to get a pre-lit one.
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Well, the pre-lit ones are terrific until the lights fail. Then, taking off the lights is so much work, you start contemplating just buying a new one. So… in the long run, I think you might be ahead. 😀 ~W
I have always wanted a fake one, until this year. (not for allergy reasons) I thought it would be easier, until one of my friends told me that it actually takes a lot of time to set up an artificial tree. They got a dead/live tree for that reason. Our tradition is that my husband gets the tree because he likes Noble firs. Then he trims it and puts it in the stand. He muscles it through the door(dropping needles everywhere, while I moan) and then puts the lights on it. This year was way better because he cut the tree down so it was very fresh, and didn’t make much of a mess at all. After that the girls and I(this year only one girl) decorate the tree while listening to music and put the train around the tree. When the girls are gone, I don’t know what we’ll do, but suspect that they will still want to come home to that Noble fir.
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I suppose it depends on the tree you have. Ours went up in less than 10 minutes. Mostly, because we’d never put it up before and it took a bit of time to open the box and bags. But I can’t see it taking more than that next year! 😀
Personally, I’m a Frasier Fir fan. 😀 ~W
Gesundheit and Merry Christmas to you 🙂
If you find yourself hankerin’ for vacuuming up pine needles, feel free to stop by.
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Um. . . sure. 😀 I’ll do that. 😀 ~W
No more Charlie Brown trees for us… at least it isn’t made of aluminum….
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I LIKE those aluminum trees, tyvm. 😀 ~W
My honey wants a faux tree so much. I haven’t given in, yet. I almost bought one while Christmas shopping, but didn’t. We just got a real tree yesterday, 6 days before Christmas. We usually go to a tree farm that is charming with cute owners, log cabin and warm apple cider. This year, instead of cutting down another tree, we found a darling pre-cut tree. Saved it from dying in vain. Now it can die with ornaments and lights on it. 🙂
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Yeah, nothing like decaying evergreens to put a person in a holiday spirit. 😀 Enjoy. I do miss it, but not the colds. ~W