Oh Christmas Tree: The Sequel

It was a mere 42 days ago that I wrote this.

And now, to my great sadness, that very tree that I was so excited about and that brought Dave and me such warmth and happiness for Christmas this year is now lying outside on the curb, in the dark and in the cold, within plain view of the very window it was illuminated in just days ago.

I suppose I knew what we'd do with the tree once Christmas was over, but taking the ornaments and lights off of it and carrying it downstairs and outside this past weekend really made me feel bad. And what's worse is that nearly every house I pass by while walking through the neighborhood or while driving to work features the same pathetic sight: a bulging green corpse at the foot of the driveway, its needles falling off and its stump in the air.

While driving down those same streets just a couple of weeks ago, the trees in those homes' windows made me feel all fuzzy inside. Now, I just feel like we're all a bunch of slimeballs, having our way with something and then (literally) casting it to the curb.

I understand that I'm being a bit melodramatic here.

Call me sappy – no pun intended – but it just seems like an extremely dismal end to something that brought us such joy.

Cutting down my own Christmas tree was a fun excursion – an excursion that I thought we'd make into a yearly tradition – but after seeing the scores of sad, dead trees over the past few days, I do believe I've had a change of heart.

Next year, I'm going artificial.

Comments

[Andre]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing after reading your initial post. Killing something for food is one thing. Killing it for entertainment is another.

I think they're going to come take away my blue card and give me a pink one.

[Farrah]

I was disturbed when I saw my first tree carcass of the season on December 26th. I thought, "Umm, wasn't Christmas just yesterday?" Unlike other objects left at the curb, nobody's picking up second-hand trees!

I took down my artificial tree (fake plastic tree would be a better description really) this weekend. Is it just me, or does anybody else get sad taking the ornaments off and packing them away in a box, not to be seen for another 11 months?

[Jayne]

LOL! Great post Erin! I have always had an artificial tree, as I could never bear to throw it out on the curb. = )

[klhp]

Hello. First Married Christmas trees are difficult to part with, yes. But, just think, next year will be SECOND Married Christmas tree and by that time, you'll be all craggy with marriage and it won't seem like such a big deal to take it down.

Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.

(Thanks for the comment. Nice to e-meet you!)