Celebrating Christmas Memories | What Do You Want For Christmas?

This Christmas marks the 44th Christmas for my Christmas Tree. This isn't any normal tree, this is the one my mother bought the day after Christmas when it went on sale. Here's the story.

In Wisconsin, there's a chain of stores called Stein's Gardens and Gifts. My mom was there all the time, she was a florist and loved going there for her supplies. Well, in 1979, she had seen this particular tree in the store and knew she wanted it. But, it was a bit more expensive than my parents could afford then, so she and my grandfather hatched a brilliant plan.

They arrived at Stein's the day after Christmas before the store opened, in hopes of getting the tree my mom wanted on a post-Christmas sale. They were the first ones inside, made a beeline to the tree, and got it 1/2 off!

Over the years, it adorned our living room. It became an annual tradition for my mom and me to decorate the tree while watching "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer". When my mom got Cancer, she still fought through the pain and fatigue from chemo to decorate the tree with me. 1994 was the final year we decorated the tree, although we didn't know it at the time. When it came time to take the tree down, she was determined that unlike previous years she'd take down Christmas herself. I didn't understand at first, but I would later.

She passed away in March of 1995, and come Christmas of '95 neither my dad nor I felt much like decorating or celebrating, and my brothers had already moved out. Finally, I decided to set up the tree and decorate, as my mom would have been upset if we didn't. Then I found out what she was up to the previous year.

She had gone through and written notes to me, my 2 brothers, and her future grandchildren, on different ornaments, decorations, and other items. There was a rocking Santa music box that she wanted my Brother and Sister-In-Law to have. There were music boxes and German Santas for me. Her Hummels were each marked, one for each of us. She knew. She knew that was going to be her final Christmas with us and that she wanted us to have something personalized from her for each of us to remember her by.

A few years later, my dad remarried. That first Christmas, my stepmother discovered she was actually allergic to the flocking on the Christmas tree, so my dad asked if I wanted the tree. Of course I did, and it has been in my home ever since. Every few years I need to touch it up, add some flocking, and give it some TLC. It has more Christmases behind it than in front of it, kinda like me, but we continue to gather around it and celebrate not only the holidays but her memory and legacy as well.

The older I get, the fewer "things" I find myself wanting when Christmas comes around. Instead of things, this Christmas, I'd love to have more intangible things. Peace of heart, peace of mind, and time. Time with family and loved ones, time to create memories with my daughters, and time to enjoy what the Christmas season is all about.

What is your Christmas wish? What do you want this Christmas? Let us know in the comments below.

#christmas #Shortsmas #Ornaments #ChristmasTree