Yes, there is a Santa
Well, if you know our crazy December Dilemma clan, you know that we have a traditions: a major Hannukkah party,
and I put up a tree.
An evergreen in the house is an essential tradition. The tree is a memorial to my father who died young, when I was only 13. We call it his yarzheit.
It is also a part of my limnal needs this time of year.
Except this year we are so broke that I could not justify spending money on something we throw out. It's a year of tough decisions. In the end,it was a fond, deep want, but not a need.
I was trying to get the kids signed on to the idea of decorating our avocado tree (grown from seed and now taking up most of a stair landing and well over 6 feet tall) with the ornaments that date from my fourth birthday.
My eldest, emminently practical, was considering the concept. My proposal had merit.
The youngest two weren't buying it.
I kept putting off the tree thing--well we can't really have it in the house for the Latke fest, now could we? All menorahs and dreidels and that would be theologically oxymoronic, right?
We'll get it later.....
My husband was THRILLED. He hates my Tree Habit. He hates finding needles in the carpet in August. He hates the mess when I haul it out in January. He was ecstatic that I was not going to get tree sap all over the front of the house.
I was dealing with my sense of loss by going to tree lots and burying my face in Frazier firs. (My daughter who saw one of these smell tours was ready to have the men in white coats come get me...) I was asking the Home Depot for the trimmed branches they throw out so I would not be completely pine-less this winter.
And then, there, on the front porch, today, a Secret Santa had left the biggest, most loveliest, most wonderfullest tree ever. We are out of this world with happiness.
Even my Scroogey husband loves the magic of a tree silently arriving on the porch. As much fun as the tree is the guessing game of Where Did it Come from??? We each have our theories about who our Mystery Macabee is......
And the best part of all, it is my goofy optimistic belief that there really truly is a Santa Claus. Thank you whoever you are, for bringing the holiday magic to my house!
This is an original Chicago Mom's Post. Thanks to Ana Garza and ThingFamily for the photo. When she is not sniffing her tree, Angela also blogs at Domestic Blitz.
