A few weeks back, being the start of Hanukkah, Betty decided we should do our version of the seasonal ritual known to many as the “cutting of the Christmas tree”. Except we cut off a branch or two which the tree(s) won’t miss, and once assembled back home is considered the “Hanukkah Bush.”
We drove to an area we call “Zombie Road” (don’t ask) and scouted for pinyon trees from which we could ‘harvest’ a few branches. As you can tell, we really out-did ourselves this year. We’ve had awkward un-gainly, off-balance, mis-shapen finished? products before, but …
And Betty didn’t care. It was the ritual, the symbolism, which/that mattered. And standing back to reflect on the thing of beauty we (mostly she) created, I said
“We have done everyone else a favor.”
Many people might feel that their Christmas tree isn’t as pretty as it could be, or as large, or as perfectly-shaped — and when they see ours, they will not feel so bad. As I told Betty —
Eddy and Henry (our 4- and 2-year-old grandchildren) will be by in a few daze. They probably will feel so over-whelmed (actually, under-whelmed is more likely) by our house in general that they won’t particularly notice the tree, uh, ahem, bush. And when they do notice it, it still might not stand out in the over-all scheme of entropy and chaos our place will be perceived to be.
However,
down the road they will go to a friend’s, or other relative’s house during the Holidaze. Said relative or friend might apologize that their tree is not pretty, nor especially wonderful.
“Your tree isn’t so bad. Sadie and Papa Fred had one which was really awful!” they might respond.
Years later, Eddie and Henry may continue to offer strong re-assurances that no matter how un-spectacular a host’s Christmas tree (and in rare cases, the Hanukkah bush) is — that they personally have seen far worse.
“Our bush this year is a very good example of what could be called the Low-End Calibration Standard,” I told Betty. I once had a job involving characterization of calibration standards, so I know a thing or two about that. And, wouldn’t you agree? that we definitely have a case, that our 2015 Hanukkah Bush could be considered THE L.E.C.S.
You are a hoot! Happy Holidays!
Linda
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bet you felt better about your tree immediately, eh?!
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Excellent job. For myself, I use a sturdy cutting of Blackwood, replete with sloes though devoid of foliage, and it works just fine when decorated with lights and sundry dangly bits.
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*’Blackthorn’*
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We don’t even *have* a tree so you are light years ahead of us! We’re lucky if we manage to put up a wreath!
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Your tree is marvellous! When I was little we always drove around the country until we found a decent (read: not really all that decent) tree to cut down (or partially cut down), and they always made the best Christmas trees. Now I live in a city and use a plastic tree. It is not the same.
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it is NEVER the same. but, sum-how, there is a sameness, any-weigh.
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Enjoy your holidays :)
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Low End Calibration Standard. My new favorite phrase.
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