O Christmas Tree

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By: Mary Forde

When we lived on the second floor in a brownstone in Brooklyn, our landlord lived below us on the “parlor floor” (Brooklyn code for the first floor you entered into). Every year, after Thanksgiving, he would buy a big, beautiful pine tree and decorate it with a multitude of ornaments, lights and tinsel (gone, but not forgotten). The tree was in the front window and was a beacon of festivity on the block. He enjoyed the tree so much, he generally left it up until about Easter or late April. Sometime around February/March, if we were really quiet, we could hear the pine needles falling to the floor. By Valentine’s Day, all that was left were ornaments, lights and some of the tinsel. The rest of the tree was in piles underneath. Trying to ignore the obvious fire hazard, we appreciated the tree continuing to shine brightly through the dark winter nights.

I think Bob (landlord) just really, really enjoyed the tree and the spirit of the holidays and figured if you didn’t take down the tree, you could continue with the emphasis on peace, love and understanding as long as it stood. As you can imagine, it was a running joke in our house and other than buying an additional smoke alarm, we learned to accept and somewhat enjoy the twinkling lights on the tree of bare branches. After the year we have just lived through, I am wondering if it isn’t time for all of us to rethink the idea of holding on to the outward signs of the holidays just a little bit longer in hopes of also holding on to the warm feelings and happy thoughts.

In the spirit of keeping the holiday alive, my first suggestion would be that everyone leave their house lights on until the first day of spring. I realize there is the additional cost of the electric bill, but wouldn’t it be nice to come home in the dark in January and be greeting by a festival of lights. I’d be OK with retiring the blow up Santa and dreidel as well as the animated Rudolph and elves (which frankly scare me just a little), but would it be so bad if we all left the lights on for an extra couple of weeks?

It would also be nice to combine our support of our essential workers from last spring with tokens of appreciation from the holidays. Maybe once a week or every couple of weeks, your children could put together a decorated card or an individually wrapped candy bar (always covid careful) for the postal worker or trash carrier. You could save some of the holiday wrapping paper and make a project of wrapping up your contribution. Although the current infection rates are approaching the levels from the spring, we seem to have lost some of our enthusiasm for recognition (we are all suffering from pandemic fatigue) even though the contributions of these workers remain as critical as they were before. And there is nothing like a KitKat and a positive note to make every job a little easier.

Another holiday extension would be to build on the anticipation of opening gifts. But instead of toys and clothes, what if each person in the family identified one task/job they would be willing to take on for a week (or a couple of days)? “I will walk the dog in the morning for three days.” Write your pledge on a card and wrap it up (another use for the used wrapping paper), and designate a day to exchange ‘gifts.’ Better still, bring over some of your holiday morning traditions to a Saturday in February – Hot chocolate, pancakes, exchange ‘gifts’ and watch Willy Wonka in your pajamas.

Finally, continue wishing all those you come in contact with a happy day. You could say‘Happy holiday!’ and thoroughly confuse them or just say, ‘Happy Wednesday!’ But continue with the holiday season cheer of giving an eye smile and a wish for happy times. Trust me , those happy times are coming and we had better be ready – someone is making a list and checking it twice – remotely.

Stay healthy, spread the holiday peace and understanding and if you decide to keep the tree up, a second fire extinguisher never hurt!

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