The Christmas Chree

This is our chree for this year.  I say 'chree' bc Kevin noticed, a few years ago, the way I pronounce 'tr: it comes out as 'chr'.  Hmph.  Never noticed that myself.  I blame my mother.  I can't recall how her 'tr' sounds, but it's not an American 'tr'.  I don't know if it's the stereotypical Irish 'tr'.  Funny, that I can't recall how she would say 'tree'.  I'll have to listen for it next time I talk to her.  I do recall that her 'sch' is more like 'szh', depending upon what followed the 'sch'.

Anyway, we picked this tree out from the Boonton Kiwanis annual chree sale.  For some reason, I'm partial to Charlie Brown chrees.  No one wants them...they always get passed over...and ultimately end up in the woodchipper on December 26th.  The other chrees - the big, wide, tall, perfectly symmetrical chrees - at least they get to partay and live a little before they get booted to the curb in January.

I took this picture when it was dark and just the tree lights on.  That's quite a flash on the camera; it looks like daylight.  It's a goofy little chree, to be sure, but we like it.  It's definitely got a hodge podge of ornaments.  Some chrees look so coordinated and elegant with themed decorations.  I don't think I could pull that off; I don't have enough style and creativity.

I'm not big on angels, but yes, that is an angel on top of the tree.  My mom gave me that years ago and I just keep putting it up there.  And yes, that is an angel in the picture behind the tree.  That picture was in a B&B in Santa Fe.  I really liked it.  I didn't notice the angel wings bc they're so faint; I thought those were just some very light artistics swirls or something in the background.  We saw a signed print in an art store in Santa Fe and brought it home to be framed.  The artist signed it and wrote 'The Angel' on it, which shoulda given it away.  Duh.  I didn't notice it until the framer pointed it out in figuring how to frame it.  Anyway, I still like it even though it's an (Native American) angel; it looks like a real person, not some sappy angel image.

That's pretty much my beef with angels: they're pictured so sappily.  That and that it just seems like they're so easy to invoke.  'Oh, an angel must've been watching over you.'  'Oh, that was your guardian angel looking out for you.'  Blah, blah, blah.  Sure, maybe angels exist, but, if so, I don't think they're anything like they're made out to be in popular culture.

It does feel kinda odd celebrating Christmas.  But I guess we don't really celebrate Christmas; we kinda celebrate 'the holidays'.  It even seems odd that it feels odd bc, ya'd think that, being raised Catholic, it would take much longer than this to lose the feeling.  Part of the odd feeling may also be due to general holiday malaise.  I wish Christmas was more like Thanksgiving.  I don't have many people to buy for; most giftees are kids, some are folks like the newspaper lady, the mail carrier, my hairstylist, etc.  But having a small gift shopping list does not allow one to escape the overall commercialization of Christmas.  So much focus on 'buying that perfect gift' and stuff like 'Every kiss begins with Kay [Jewelers]' or people buying each other Lexuses for Christmas.  Not that I'm in much danger of this, but please don't anyone buy me a car for Christmas.  And I don't like that it's so often the guy giving the girl some fancypants gift and then the girl's all over the guy.  Ewwww.  It suggests the 'but I took you out for a fancy, expensive dinner so I expect...' idea.  Maybe I'm overreacting, though (always a possibility).  Maybe I'm just ornery today (another constant possibility).

I also like how Thanksgiving seems so quiet, the days leading up to it and Thanksgiving Day itself.  Most people are already wherever they'll spend Thanksgiving, so the roads are quiet.  The house smells good.  If the phone rings, it's sure to be someone you want to hear from.  (Granted, Thanksgiving - or any holiday - is not so good for everyone.)

What is the perfect gift, anyway?  Perfect gifts I wish I could give people: their health back; their loved ones back; their problems eased; their spirits raised; opportunities; etc.  But I can't give those kinds of gifts, so, what?  I'll give them a scarf instead?  Oy.