Tree of Memories

Like many Christmas trees, ours is a time-measuring tree. We have so many ornaments now, there are too many for one tree to hold! We have a couple of small table trees that help out, but when you choose which ornaments will be hung, you’re choosing which will not.

Some of our ornaments have been gifts from many friends over time. One is the cup of hot chocolate, knitted by our friend Joan Helm. Some we have given to ourselves during the years. We have one cut from wood that says, “Peace on Earth,” which no one could convince me to part with, but which, if a child saw and loved it, I would give to her without a second thought. Melissa has crocheted more snowflakes and angels than I could count. Many have been gifts to others.

But most of the ornaments we have hung in recent years are 70 years old, maybe older. They belonged to Melissa’s parents, or grandparents, or aunt. There are American and German-made glass ornaments in their original cardboard boxes, which, were we so inclined, could sell for $60 each or more. We still have strings of bubble lights purchased when the Beatles were a new thing. There is the tiny snow-covered Christmas cabin which hung on Melissa’s childhood trees. A set of white glass bells still in the original box as they came from Japan remains in perfect condition. These things contrast to the light strings we buy every year and which fail to work the next.

This year, decorating seems to be a form of therapy and of holding on to simple things certain and true.