I t was the Sunday morning of Thanksgiving weekend and it was misting and cold. A perfect morning to go Christmas tree shopping. Instead of going down half a mile on Lamar to where the Optimist Club sell trees from a grassy lot beside the street we drove for half an hour to the Elgin Christmas tree farm. We got there a few minutes after they open and the muddy parking lot was already almost full. While waiting in the cold drizzle for the tractor to take us to the trees, we experienced the joy of listening to Vivian and Evan whine while Jo and I tried to be reasonable.
"It's raining"
"Yes, it is, dear"
"I'm cold"
"Put your hands in your pocket, sweetheart"
"It's still raining"
"Yes, honey"
"It's still raining"
"Fucking amazing, isn't it?"
Finally the tractor with a trailer lined with hay bales showed up. The hay was too wet to sit on so we held on to each other and the tractor dropped us off in a tree lot. Much squelching around in the mud ensued while the family critically analyzed several trees. Too thin, too fat, too tall, tilts to the left. Eventually we stopped the kids from exploring further and got them to reluctantly agree on a tree. Then we took turns with the hand saw to cut it down. By then the drizzle had stopped and the kids were occupied. The tractors that were headed back were full so Jo and I carried the tree back to the farm house (functional fitness), had it bagged and then we hoisted it up on the car and drove home.
We rearranged the living room to accommodate the tree and and here it is before the kids and Jo decorated it. Once the red velvet tree skit went up around the base of the tree, Crazy happily curled up and slept the whole night under the tree. I think she thinks she's glamping.
"It's raining"
"Yes, it is, dear"
"I'm cold"
"Put your hands in your pocket, sweetheart"
"It's still raining"
"Yes, honey"
"It's still raining"
"Fucking amazing, isn't it?"
Finally the tractor with a trailer lined with hay bales showed up. The hay was too wet to sit on so we held on to each other and the tractor dropped us off in a tree lot. Much squelching around in the mud ensued while the family critically analyzed several trees. Too thin, too fat, too tall, tilts to the left. Eventually we stopped the kids from exploring further and got them to reluctantly agree on a tree. Then we took turns with the hand saw to cut it down. By then the drizzle had stopped and the kids were occupied. The tractors that were headed back were full so Jo and I carried the tree back to the farm house (functional fitness), had it bagged and then we hoisted it up on the car and drove home.
We rearranged the living room to accommodate the tree and and here it is before the kids and Jo decorated it. Once the red velvet tree skit went up around the base of the tree, Crazy happily curled up and slept the whole night under the tree. I think she thinks she's glamping.
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