family christmas tree, cont.

I decorated the family Christmas tree on Saturday morning. There’s so much memory and history invested in my parents’ tree. Here’s a hand-quilted star made by Mom with a photo of my brother at one year old. (Dad saw the photo and exclaimed “BB!”) Here’s a pair of wooden ornaments: a carved nativity scene that my parents got on their trip to Israel a few years back, next to one of Mom’s favorite wooden rocking horses. Those guys are probably older than I am. Here’s a ceramic Christmas tree that I painted myself on a Saturday with Auntie Jen. Here’s a literal pine cone speckled with red and gold glitter, hanging from a yellow yarn string. My brother made it in Sunday School. I gave it pride of place right below the Christmas star.

Point is, my “aesthetic” tree could never compare.

Then we had Thanksgiving lunch. I sorta figured I’d be having turkey leftovers, but nope—my parents put off the big Thanksgiving bash until my arrival. I’m really glad I came.