First things first, after submitting Part I of Tips from a Professional Tree Decorator I decided I’d work on my “Nana Tree”. I managed to get another box of ornaments up on the tree. Things are getting tight on the tree, which is the way they should be. Just one more to go. I can either go put them up on the tree, write this column, get a shower, or order Christmas gifts on line.
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Okay, I’m back. I just ordered a satellite radio system and boom box for my father. Now he can listen to his favorite forties music at home, and not just in the car. I know my mother is going to thank me for this, especially after hearing Spike Jones for the umpteenth time in two days. I still need to get something else for her.
Getting back to Professional Tree Decorating Tips Part Two.
Ever noticed how great those trees in department stores or Christmas shops look? We’ve discussed the light thing, but I failed to mention one thing about lights. Most people who are sensible and have very good taste choose white lights (like my extremely tasteful mother). Traditional tree people like moi like multi-colored lights. White are nice, but the multi-colored lights remind me of my grandmother. Yep, the same one I mentioned in Part One.
Let’s face it, Nana’s Christmas decorations were hokey. She had the Reader’s Digest Mr. & Mrs. Santa that my cousins and I made one year. For several years she faithfully put those out until one of my aunts probably threw them away behind her back. Then there was the year we made red and green tissue wreaths. True to form and loyalty to her extremely talented older grandchildren. Michael was six months younger than I, the eldest. His sister, Linda was three years younger than he. My sister Cathy was about six months younger than Linda. We were the “big four” constantly aped (I use that word intentionally) by the younger kids. Anyway – it seems every year Michael or Linda would come up with a new arts & crafts Christmas project for us to do the moment our car pulled into the grandparent’s drive.
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