As I was decorating the tree, which consisted of trying to find ornaments to cover the holes between the artificial branches, I found myself thinking about where each piece came from.
My mom still has the ornaments from when my siblings and I were young - all the personalized pieces she's collected over the years. That makes her tree extra special, filled with memories of a house full of family. My ornaments are not as heirloom-y at this point, but they have memories attached to them nonetheless.
For example, I have a crocheted angel that was given to me by Zlatka Dimitrova, who everyone called Dimi. Dimi was a student at Bob Jones University when I was there, and we both worked at the switchboard. She stayed at the school over the summer and spent her time between phone calls making little angels and snowflakes for the people she knew. I was one of the recipients, and every time I hang that angel on my tree, I think of her.
I've got another handmade ornament that's new to my tree this year. It's a tatted snowflake made by Helene Perry for my grandmother, Jean Webb Avery. I don't know for sure when Grandma got this lovely snowflake, but I got it following her funeral last January. While I won't forget Grandma any time soon and I never met Helene, this ornament will remind me of another friendship.
And then there's this personalized ornament. I got this from a coworker, Patti Danbom, who is retiring at the end of December. Patti has been at the paper for 32 years - that's more than a lifetime for some of us. She likes to find little gifts for everyone at Christmas, serving as the office Santa Claus, I guess. This ornament was a gift a couple years ago. I certainly won't forget Patti, and her gift will help me remember my name, too.
I think that's the best part of a Christmas tree. Choosing the ornaments for each year, thinking about the people who gave them to you and enjoying the final product add a special glow to each Christmas season. So as you hustle and bustle through the shopping, school and church programs, family gatherings and work parties, take a moment to enjoy your tree. Look at the ornaments, tell your friends/children/anyone who will listen the stories behind each one. Write them down if you don't have anyone to talk to but the tree. Keep them safe, because they help tell your story.
Have a blessed and happy Christmas season, everyone. And try not to get too angry with your artificial tree for scratching you. After all, it spends 11 months of the year in a box.
