O Tannenbaum

Ahhhh the holidays have arrived.... The streets are adorned with illuminated decor, the lamp posts blast familiar holiday tunes, the Salvation Army rings their bells in hopes of donations, the ice skaters visit the famous plaza to participate in New York tradition, the department store windows compete for the best holiday displays, light snow falls occasionally, and I have finally put up my tree....three times.

Three times, you ask? Yes. And it may not be the last....You see, I visited the corner lot on 31st avenue with my friend to pick out my Christmas tree. I was so excited to have my "When Harry Met Sally Moment" of dragging my tree home with my friend. I picked out the best tree I could afford after bartering with the tree lot guy. He was trying to sell me a 125 dollar tree with a 25 dollar stand. I quickly informed him that this aspiring actress/cocktail waitress would need a cheaper tree! I opted for the 50 dollar tree and the broken 5 dollar stand from Rite aid. It was missing one of the 4 screws. I knew we could rig it somehow.

The tree went up smoothly with the help of my tomodachi. We prepared for the ornament party complete with White Chocolate Martinis, Christmas karaoke, and an ornament exchange! After all carols had been sung, all ornaments placed, and egg nog, SoCo and Godiva Liquor had been consumed, we slept while visions of sugar plums danced in our heads.

This morning, I awoke from my cocktailing graveyard shift to a tree that looked as if tiny little logger elves had chopped my beautiful tree down. I scratched my head, and a small part of me regretted that 5 dollar discounted useless stand I had purchased from Rite Aid. I was screwed without the screw.

Not sure how to fix the 6.5' tree alone, I did my best to prop it up by getting on my knees and shoving my head deep into the branches to get to the trunk. I somehow needed to loosen the three existing screws and shove something sturdy in the fourth quadrant to support the trunk.

I adjusted the 3 screws and the tree actually seemed to stand quite securely. PHEW!!! I picked up the ornaments that had become victims of the unstable tree, vacuumed the fallen needles and happily sipped my coffee with holiday coffee mate.

I sat beside my beautiful tree, covered in ornaments collected over the years, watching Sandra Lee go way overboard with her table scape. Just when I thought all was well, my tree took another dive right before my eyes!!!!! I prayed nothing would break, stopped, dropped and rolled. When it was over I looked up, and the tree had fallen once again between my two couches. I looked around the house for something sturdy to wedge in the stand. All I could come up with was a face lotion box.

So, once again, I managed to prop up the tree, adjust the screws, and shove that box in the stand beside the trunk. I definitely was smelling the tree now. I got closer to my tree this year than I imagined possible!

So, after a second vacuum and ornament recovery, I picked the pine needles from my hair and thought of all my friends far and wide and who may get a little holiday cheer from the image of me and my first New York Christmas tree.

I wish all of you a wonderful holiday season. May it be full of spiked egg nog, carols old and new, friends and family, and of course sturdy trees and fully equipped tree stands. -M