Guest post: HO HO, OH NO!

by Donald Myer

I thought it would be nice to send a photo of my Christmas tree with Christmas greeting from downeast Maine to be used while Sara and the family are enjoying some time away over the holidays.

I went out in the woods on Saturday and cut down a tree. It was covered in snow and ice, so I brought it into the house and set it up over an old shower curtain so that it could dry. It was 8’ tall and nicely shaped. They were calling for a blizzard on Sunday, so it would be a perfect day to decorate the tree.

Sunday the snow and wind arrived as scheduled. I put in my favorite Christmas CDs, moved the tree in front of my picture window and got ready to decorate. I like lots of lights, so I strung 3 strands of blue and 7 strands of white lights. I then started with the decorations. I have 3 big boxes of things that I have collected or have been given over the years. As I go through them I think of my friends. The many that I have, and the many that I have lost. I know the holiday season can make people sad, but I always try to remember how blessed I am, and think of only the good times I have had with them.

I got through box #1, the wooden and home made decorations. Lobsters and bears and the many snow flakes my mother crocheted for my partner and I many years ago. The tree was starting to take shape. As I opened box #2, the crystal and real sentimental ones, my back to the tree, I hear a big crash! I turn and see the tree on the floor, water pouring out all over my living room rug. I had jiggled the tree, yanked on it and it seemed totally secure. But, something brought it down. I stood it back up, nothing had broken and I had not electrocuted myself by standing in the water with the light plugs at my feet.

What to do? I couldn’t leave the wet rug down for 2 weeks and there was no place to put the tree while I got the rug up. As sad as it made me, the tree had to go. So off came the decorations, off came the lights. I still wanted the smell of the tree in the house, so out came the loppers and off came the tree branches. I took the limbless trunk outside and threw it off my porch and down over the hill as far as I could heave it. Up came the rug and out came the fan.

I sat down by the roaring fire in my fireplace, feeling a bit sad that the tree was gone. Then I realized how lucky I was that it happened when it did. A half hour later it would have be covered in balls and breakable ornaments that I would never be able to replace. They are safe for another tree, another year.

To top things off, 5 minutes before the end of the football game, the winds picked up and the power went off. I have a rule: I don't drink when I am here alone, which is most of the time. Considering how the day went, I broke the rule. I sat down in front of the fire with a big shot of Stoli on ice!! I realize it was just one of those days we all have. Bad biorhythms or something. Nothing to get worked up over.

A couple hours later the power came back on, I find out the Pats had won, I didn’t have to heat up the yankee pot roast in the fireplace and I wouldn't have to sleep on the couch in front of the fire. Life is good again!! I am blessed.

So the greens have been put in vases and the house smells of Christmas. I have placed some of my favorite ornaments around the house and the place looks just fine.

Of course, I have no photo of the tree to add, so I am adding a photo of last years tree. It will have to do!



HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM DOWNEAST MAINE