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Turtle Tales
by Carol Breidenbach
Misadventures with the Family Tree
25 December 2001
Like all young idealists, we had a real Christmas tree the first years we were married. After finding pine needles up through July each year, an artificial tree started looking very attractive.
When my mother-in-law moved to a smaller home, she decided to give us her old tree in exchange for us buying her a new smaller one. I really didn't like that tree of hers. It was too thin, had short needles and was very austere looking. Not being able to think of a graceful way to get out of it, we were stuck with the tree.
Five years later as we were moving from Tiffin, I sold the tree at a garage sale. My husband was already living in Defiance waiting for our house to sell. My plan was to tell him the movers left the tree in the attic.
As we pulled into the driveway of our new home, son Chip piled out of the car and announced to this father, "Dad, we have a big problem, Mom sold our Christmas tree and now we don't have one." Mother's guilt is a terrible thing.
Christmas came and we purchased a nice tree complete to my liking. Over the years, this tree gradually started to show its age and effects of wear and tear. Some limbs started to droop and were held up by strategically placed presents. Ornaments were hung creatively to hide gaping holes. The tree's last few years were years of college tuition and major medical expenses. It just had to do.
Finally the kids graduated, the doctors were paid and I had had enough! The plan was to go shopping the day after Christmas for a new tree. Lenny had to work, so I set out on my own. Before leaving, I measured our living room from ceiling to floor. I found the perfect tree.
This year as we unpacked the tree, I was anticipating with great delight the prospect of finally having the perfect tree. Daughter-in-law Cari and I were in charge of "fluffing" the branches and spreading them out to look "real." Lenny and Chip began assembling them into a tree. Hmmm, something didn't look right; this tree was too big around. It was going to fill up the entire middle of our living room. It had never occurred to me to check the circumference of the tree!
Lenny didn't say anything, just threw me a look. After 32 years, I know what he was thinking, but to his credit, he didn't say it. I measured the height, didn't I?
Chip suggested we build on one of those one piece sun rooms for the tree. A $7,000 room for a $150 tree? Cari, in an attempt to be helpful, suggested that the tree wasn't too big, but that we had too much furniture. I appreciated the support.
After the tree was completely assembled, we all decided it was absolutely beautiful. For three or four weeks out of the year, we could maneuver around and peek through it. If you got out shopping at those great after Christmas sales, my advice is to measure the height and circumference of your tree. Merry Christmas!
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