Christmas 1977 - I was 23, Daniel was 16 months old and I was pregnant with #2Sunday afternoon my sweet son (child #4) came over to bring the Christmas tree upstairs and hand boxes of decorations down from the attic to me. Right away I tested the lights on the tree because there was one strand last year that kept going out. This year only one small section of lights was working. I decided that all the lights would have to come off and I would buy new ones.
Let me tell you, I cannot think of one thing that I hate doing in this life more than putting on or taking lights off the tree. In the past, I have been known to cry like a baby after spending hours putting lights on the tree (which I tested first) only to find that they wouldn't work when I was done. Yesterday, after struggling with unwinding them only to feel as though I was getting nowhere, I abandoned the job to reconcile my checking account instead (another thing I don't enjoy). Don't ask me how long I have put doing that off. Are you seeing a pattern here.....yes, it's true....I put off jobs I hate until later all the time. That is why I have so many things that need doing around here. I chose to wash dishes and load the dishwasher afterward, in order to have an excuse not to take the lights off the tree.
So, tonight...no more excuses I told myself. Get up and get those lights off the tree. Half way through the job, I realized....wait a minute....this is not the smaller tree I bought last year. This is the old tree. The one that is too heavy for me to slide it back against the wall. At first I thought I would just use it since it was upstairs anyway. Then I realized....the new tree only had one strand of lights that needed replacing...I was not going to go out and buy all new lights for a tree I don't even want to use anymore.
So I called my son up....guess what...do you think you could...thank you....you're the best! The sweetie said he will come by before work tomorrow and switch trees. Bless his sweet heart!
Since I had partial strands of lights hanging out of the tree everywhere, I went ahead and took them all off. Once off the tree 3 strands still work. I'm thinking that I'm just going to throw them up along the mantel and over the entertainment center Charlie Brown Christmas style....messy, no fuss decorations...that's the ticket for me this year.
The lights are always the worst part, that is why I have a small tree with lights on a chain, no mess, no fuss. Putting on lights is so easy now.;)
ReplyDeleteLOVE that picture, look at you - so pretty.;)
But you know - you still are.;)
xo
That sounds good to me, too. Often, in the past few years, with being on call so much during the holidays, I became a bit of a Scrooge and didn't want to haul out all of the decorations. With no little ones around and only three adult sons, it didn't seem all that important. My youngest son, though ( 25 ) does mind - so I will decorate this year as I think he'll get his own place in a few months.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds good to me, too. Often, in the past few years, with being on call so much during the holidays, I became a bit of a Scrooge and didn't want to haul out all of the decorations. With no little ones around and only three adult sons, it didn't seem all that important. My youngest son, though ( 25 ) does mind - so I will decorate this year as I think he'll get his own place in a few months.
ReplyDeleteStevie,
ReplyDeleteOh my lands. I've been there before. One year long ago I had the Christmas stored in a huge trash bag. I went thru all of them, replacing each light with the one before. Don't you know they still wouldn't light up. I had spent hours. I was so aggrevated that I wadded them up and kept spinning them around and then threw them across the room finally bagging them up and putting them out in the trash. I went and bought new lights for under $10. So that is what I do now... just go buy new ones. Lesson learned.
I'm sure your holiday season will improve.... just look at that wonderful family you have.
The Bach
Come and join the Mr. Toast's First Annual Christmas Tea. We are all silly, but having fun. His URL is on my side bar. (Toast and Jam).. see you there.
ReplyDeleteThe Bach
I hate the preparations but the end result is so much fun. Focus on the fun....
ReplyDeleteI agree...I absolutely HATE putting on the lights. But, I agree with the Bach, that's one thing I don't save. I buy new strands every year. Then I pop in The Grinch and pour myself a nice glass of wine while I wrap the lights around the tree, and feel a little better.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I broke down and bought a pre-lit tree. Oh. My. Gosh. It was the best investment EVer. Think about it. You would love one!!
ReplyDelete*hugs* i would be so frustrated too. actually, i stood in front of trees Sunday and backed down on putting one up because I cowered at the thought of lights.
ReplyDeletewithout children around decorating the tree isnt all that much fun ... my BFF, her son and I would trim their tree every year and we had a ball ... now the son is married, has a baby daughter and is living in CA so .. my BFF's husband does the decorating and we get to second guess why he picked this or that ornament vs another and why there's not enough tinsel .. but ALL the lights work perfectly.
ReplyDeleteI am sure your lights flung near and far over mantle and entertainment center will be a vision worth drawing!
Tangled tree-lights are like wire hangers hooked together. I hate both!
ReplyDeleteWe bought a pre-lighted tree last year and it is a joy! Just plug her in and go!
It also downsized us from the humongous thing that the cats were always tearing down and now they're just not bothered. I can still decorate it beautifully with all my favourite ornaments and it sits up on a table in the corner so it can be seen in the window.
Your son is a great guy, but look who he has for a mom!
Nice pic, by the way. Twenty-three!
I hear ya on this one! I use a pre-lit tree now and it is a God send. :)
ReplyDeleteWe usually have two trees, one real and one fake. Hopefully both sets of lights will be in working order. When I was young, I wanted the small twinkle lights. Now the bigger lights are back in style. I am not sure I want to make an investment in the larger style lights. But, I do like them. Maybe I can find a sale! Or maybe get a smaller tree!Your son sounds wonderful!
ReplyDeletedenise
denise
Your tree story was a hoot. I just told my friends last night that the only time my parents ever fussed was at Christmas over decorating the tree. I love your picture. We were so young in the seventies. What happened? We are still cute though.
ReplyDeleteYes. We were so young in the seventies. I can't figure it out either. I hate lights. They either work, or they don't. Any questionable ones go right in the trash. It may not be the 'green' thing to do, but I buy a supply of Christmas lights right after Christmas. I have two new boxes of them in the closet right now, and I got them for 90 cents in a post holiday sale. If I need more lights, I have them on hand. That's how we do it at my house.
ReplyDeleteoh what a great shot, 1977, you are sooo young girl! sons are the best!
ReplyDeleteha ha ~You are hilarious! Charlie Brown decorations... I can totally visualize it.
ReplyDeleteLurve the photo, precious memories!