Let's put up the Christmas tree

 

An October Christmas Commercial

Earlier today I heard some music coming from the television in the other room. I thought, “Wait just a minute. No way! I can’t be hearing that correctly.”

So, I walked into the room and, sure enough, I saw my first Christmas commercial on TV for this year. I said, “Come on. You must be kidding me!”

I pulled out my phone and looked at the date. “Let’s see,” I thought, “it’s… October 23^rd, it’s still a week before Halloween. That may be the earliest I’ve seen an ad for Christmas on TV.”

The ad was for K-Mart and I just caught the end of it but I think it had to with their layaway program. So I will quickly grant that the whole concept of layaway involves putting some things aside well before Christmas in order to pay them off by the time Christmas arrives. However, it was still a surprise to hear the Christmas music playing in the background and taking in the references to the Christmas season.

I laughed and thought, “Well, that’s how it is nowadays. They start advertising Christmas and making references to Christmas earlier and earlier every year.” Then I went back in the other room and continued putting up the Christmas tree.

A Nice Christmas Moment

Last night, we put up the Christmas tree, the lights and other decorations. 

When we finished the adornments, we turned off the other lights and the next thing you know we were all sitting together, Nadia, Rachel, Taylor and I with the room lit only by the Christmas lights, as Christmas music played.  It was one of those lovely, unplanned family Christmas moments.

(If I had tried to engineer a moment like this, it’s unlikely that it would have happened.)

At one point the song that was playing had these lyrics:

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him love,
The Babe, the son of Mary.

One of my favorite carols.  My heart was filled with thankfulness, peace, love and joy.

A Christmas Tree Miracle

I knew that it was too early to put up our Christmas tree—it’s not even Thanksgiving, yet, for crying out loud—but some type of Christmas mood took hold of Nadia and I and before we knew it, Christmas music was playing and the tree was up.

We did not hide the fact that the tree was up.  In fact, it is positioned by the large picture window in the front of our house and is, therefore, quite visible.  So, I guess I shouldn’t have been too surprised when the village authorities sent a S.W.A.T. team to the house.

“We know you’re in there.”  It was a voice outside on a bullhorn.  “And we know you’ve got your Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving.  Come out with your hands up, kicking the tree in front of you, and this can still end peacefully.”

“You can’t make me take it down!” I yelled as I lobbed several scented Christmas candles out the window.  The candles fell on the front lawn without much of an effect.  But it feels good to take a principled stand.

Well, they stormed the house and we were outnumbered.  Fortunately, no one was injured because we had pretty much forgotten they were out there at that point and were watching a rerun of the Simpsons.

As they were taking the tree out the front door in handcuffs, I said, “Fellas, wait a minute.  I’m begging you to just listen to me for a moment.”  They turned to look at me and it was totally quiet.  That’s when I told them several touching stories about my early memories of Christmas and the special meaning that it holds in my life.

As I finished talking I looked around the room and everyone was wiping tears from their eyes.

The S.W.A.T. team officer in charge said, “You know what?  We don’t care if this is in violation of Village Code 347-13(b), our hearts have been touched.  Darn it!  You can keep your tree up, after all.”

The next thing you know, we were all hugging and laughing and they even helped us place the tree back in its position and put the star on top.  Then we all held hands and sang “Hark The Herald, Angels Sing.”  I don’t have to tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as we sang the final chorus.

That’s when I woke up with a start and groggily rubbed my eyes.  I looked around trying to get my bearings and then I chuckled at another one of my crazy dreams.

Oh, but I’m not kidding, by the way, about putting up the Christmas tree today.  That part of the story is true. 

As I was putting some of the left over ornaments back in the boxes and tidying up a bit, I saw a business card on the ground near the tree.  I picked it up and looked.  It read, “John Smith, S.W.A.T. Commander.”

“What?!?” I said, as I looked at the card in disbelief.

I think I’m starting to believe in Christmas miracles.

Here, Look In On The Annual Christmas Tree Ceremony At Our House

Well, the Christmas tree is up!  We had the annual Christmas tree ceremony at our house tonight. 

Come on, sing with me…

“O, Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,

Thy amber waves of grain!!!”

Hmm, I think I may have gotten my lyrics confused, there. Anyhow, the ceremony involves me laying on the floor under the tree for 10 minutes, or so, trying to get the Christmas tree stand properly set.

Once the stand is set and the tree is in place, we begin decorating the tree until it falls over. At that point, I get back on the floor and monkey around with the stand again, for another 5 minutes, or so, and then we continue decorating the tree.

Generally, the tree falls over two or three more times before I get the duct tape out and fix the situation for once and for all. Seriously, if no one told you, you would never even notice the strands of tape connecting the tree to the nearby wall.

It’s not falling over now! In fact, Brian Urlacher couldn’t knock it over now. (Is he injured or is he playing? I don’t know. That may be a lame reference. If it is, feel free to insert the name of any big strong guy you know.)

Anyhow, the tree looks lovely (see the photo accompanying this post).

Jasper (our dog) is fairly new to our house and he’s fairly new to the Christmas decorating process and, so, he is fascinated by it all. And his apparent confusion is understandable. On the other hand, I can’t imagine that a Christmas tree ornament either smells very good or tastes very good, so, even though he’s new to our Christmas traditions, eating the ornaments still doesn’t make sense.

Jasper is sitting very quietly and meekly by my feet right now, because he knows that Rachel is upset at him for eating ornaments. He’s very sensitive. He can tell when she’s angry. Alright, I guess he’s not THAT smart, the jumping up and down and yelling are a pretty obvious tip off.

At any rate, as the jumping up and down and yelling gradually begin to subside and a spirit of peace and calm, almost descends on our house, I wanted to take this moment to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Y… oh, wait… it’s still November, isn’t it? Okay, I’m a little early, I’ll get back to you on the Christmas greetings.  In the meantime, Happy November 30^th!!!