Our couple does not look happy. |
I’m convinced that the couple depicted on this week’s bad
postcard has just returned from searching for the family Christmas tree.
Oh, sure, the evergreen on the guy’s shoulder is a clue. But
I only had to look at the unpleasant, if not hostile, expressions on our
yuletide couple’s faces to know where they've been.
Yes, I’m one of those die-hards who insist on a real
evergreen in our living room instead of an artificial tree.
I also insist on cutting it down at a tree farm. Last time
we bought a pre-cut tree, we were knee-deep in pine needles.
This used to be a full family adventure, heading to the
farm, climbing on the horse-drawn sled that takes took us deep into the fields
where we found the perfect tree, quickly cutting it down, loading it back on
the sled and sipping on hot cocoa as the staff shook and bound the tree for the
trip home.
At least that’s the way it looked in theory.
In reality, I’m deathly allergic to horses and selecting the
perfect tree took forever as we trudged through ankle-deep snow. Finally, I’d
have to lay on my belly in the snow to get the dull saw to cut through the
trunk. Naturally, we’d miss the return sled and have to drag the tree back to
the car trying to avoid the mud in the parking lot.
OK, maybe it wasn’t that bad. But my wife refuses to go on
such trips these days.
That leaves me and the kids. Truth be told, the son has
minimal interest. He’d pick the first tree we’d stumble upon if he had a say in
this. Which, I must add, he does not. He is a tree mule, brought on these
expeditions to solely to help carry O Tannenbaum back to the car.
This guy is in trouble. |
Eventually we load the tree into or on top of the car and
hope that the string holds long enough to get to McDonald’s for egg nog shakes
and, eventually, home.
It is unquestionably a family bonding exercise that ushers
in the season of tidings and joy. And it all ends well when we have our beautifully lit and decorated tree, pleasing to the eye and filling the house with that wonderful pine aroma.
Our couple on this week’s bad postcard will discover that –
once they are talking to each other again.
One neat note: This card was postmarked at 5:30 p.m. on
Christmas Day, 1909. That means Grace, who sent this to Mrs. Harry Horton of
Parma, was a world-class procrastinator!
2 comments:
You need a better tree farm. I love pinecrest in Galien. Tractors or horses and they come around every few minutes so no missing
Thanks, Dustin! I'm better off with the tractors and not the horses!
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