Nita's Holiday Story

Recipes aren’t worth a dime a dozen after the holidays.  We’ve had enough.
In fact, it would be nice if the food fairy dropped off dinner for a few days.
That’s not going to happen.  What I need is a diversion, a story, a story to share.
    My live Christmas tree still looks good, but I know its days are numbered.
It is a Frazier Fir and one of the nicest I have ever had.  We have done the circuit.  Raised our own, bought fresh ones, then to artificial ones and now back to a real tree..   Not to mention the wild cedar trees that stood in a bucket of sand  at Christmas for the first years of our marriage.  Those were the days, good ones too.  But to get to our story. 
                                 The Most Beautiful Tree I Have Ever Seen

   Spring is a symbol of new life.  So it is with our story.
One spring as swallows nested under the back porch eaves, Papa and Mama had a baby son.  They named him Olaf.
   To celebrate the birth, Papa planted spruce seedlings in the meadow.  They were not very big, the baby or the trees.  But thanks to love, care and the summer sun, they all grew strong.
   When the winter winds blew and Christmas drew near, stockings were hung by the fireplace and filled with treats for the child.  But there was no Christmas tree.  Papa and the toddler visited the meadow and he told the boy that they would have a holiday tree of their own one day.
   After a few years Papa and Olaf went to the meadow and saw the growing trees.  Papa announced,  “This will be the first year of our own Christmas tree!”
   Olaf beamed and said, “This little tree can stand on a small table at the  window. It is just right!”  So they cut the tree and pulled it across the snow to the house. Bart and Cedric ran along behind.  They were happy to be a part of the adventure.
   Mama was pleased.  She said, “Let’s make paper snowflakes to decorate the tree.”  Soon it stood proudly at the window, giving the room a special fragrance. 
  In January Mama carried the dry tree outside.  Chickadees found shelter in its thinning branches when the cold winds blew.
   Each year they chose a spruce tree for their special Christmas tree.  One year Olaf said, “This tree has many branches and it is tall!”  Papa cut the tree and put it on a sled to take it to the house.  The dogs bounced along beside the sled. 
   Mama exclaimed, “Lands! This is the most beautiful tree  I have ever seen.”  It was decorated and enjoyed by the family. Later Mama carried the tree outside.  Rabbits found shelter near the trunk.
  In a few years the trees were taller than Olaf or Papa.   In the field the branches of the trees brushed against each other. Olaf stretched his neck to see the tops that seemed to touch the sky.  He had grown taller, also.
  When they had chosen a tree, Papa cut it, put it on a wagon and the horses pulled it to the house.
   But when they tried to get it through the door it wouldn’t go.  “Push!” cried Papa.  Olaf pushed and Papa pulled.  But it wouldn’t go.
   “This tree is too big, it’s stuck,” cried Mama.
   Finally Papa cut off some of the lower branches.  Then they easily pulled the tree into the room.  “The branches will be for a wreath and decorations for the dinner table,” said Mama in delight.
   Olaf shouted, “The top of the tree touches the ceiling and the side branches brush the piano.”  Once again the family decorated the spruce with snowflakes and paper chains, adding a little tin star on the top.  “This is the most beautiful tree I have ever seen!”
   The next winter when the snow blew Papa and Olaf visited the field and looked at all of the tall trees.  “These trees are too big for the house, but they are just right for the animals.  They will be a home for the birds and pinecones will provide seeds for the rabbits.”
   Olaf said, “Let’s plant more little trees.”
   In the spring they did just that and each year there after.  When the cold winds blew, Papa and Olaf visited the field, now swaying with evergreens, and chose a tree that was just right.
   Many Christmas celebrations followed.  Once again a Papa took a child to the field to find the perfect tree.  Pulling it home to stand by the window the
child exclaimed,  “Grandpa! Grandpa! This is the most beautiful tree I have ever seen.”  Papa, Mama, Grandma, and Grandpa thought so too!


A little fiction for the season.