Will's Dancing Christmas Tree

Will's construction paper/tinfoil Christmas tree has graced our refrigerator every year since he made it when he was in kindergarten. It always brings a smile to my face when I open the plastic ornament bin with this delightful little tree on the top. Today was the day, and we opted for the artificial tree this year which OilMan dragged up from the basement.

The good thing about an artificial tree is that it doesn't turn brown and drop needles which migrate all over the house and are still surfacing in July. It doesn't need a stand which is potentially unstable or leaky. We've had many a fresh tree tethered to the woodwork with wire because it threatened to fall on anybody who brushed by it, The receptacle in the stand of a fresh tree should be filled with water (or 7-UP or sugar water or some other miracle liquid) daily, but on several occasions we have failed to notice that instead of a thirsty tree, we have a leaky stand in a pool of water (or 7-Up, or whatever…)

An artificial tree comes with perfectly spaced lights on it, although it also comes in sections , the strings of which have to be connected correctly or half the tree won't light up.. An artificial tree doesn't smell like a pine forest. In fact it doesn't smell like anything. I have tried scented candles but they just smell like fake bathroom deodorizers. We usually buy some fresh garlands or wreaths, but they die within days and drop needles…well, you know.

At the moment, the tree is half decorated. Plastic bins and boxes , ornament hangers and tissue paper litter the house,, and there is a stool instead of gaily wrapped packages under the tree. I have a large collection of birds' nests which I put on the tree,.They drop their share of twigs, moss, string, grass and whatever else birds collect to weave into their nests.

But it has potential, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. I can't imagine a house without a some kind of Christmas tree.