Trimming the Tree

The tree is finally up in our house and it made me feel happy and sad all at the same time. This is the first year in awhile that I will be single for the holidays. Not only single, but without the thought of someone close by to look forward to. It made me feel lonely for the first time in a long time.

Carefully putting the ornaments up on the tree also took on a different meaning for me this year. I had a chance to look back and remember all the memories about how we have collected all the memories that are being hung on the branches of our tree. There are all the cute (also embarassing) ones that have pictures of my sister and I when we were younger. I attempted to hang those farther back, but my mom insisted that they stay at the front so that she can see them. There are the funny ornaments that Kate and I made when we were in Brownies and other associated groups. There were a few that I realized I have collected over the past years from friends and ones that have simply caught my eye.

I've been able to add my unique stamp to our Christmas tree. In a few years I may be creating my own Christmas tree in a home that is not the one I grew up in. That thought made me a little bit lonely as well, but a bit content all at the same time. I am growing up and becoming more of the person that I was created to be. It's just one of those things that happens over the years that you get to trim the tree.

As for the loneliness . . . who knows? Maybe Santa has a special present in his sack for me this year!