Merry Humbug

While most of the time I’m right in line with Michael as far as not being overly sentimental about much, Christmas holds a number of long-standing and beloved traditions that I do allow myself to get a little schmaltzy about. Like, say, decorating.

I have found over the years that I have a certain penchant for simple ball ornaments, especially red ones. Which is probably why I have a couple different collections of them - ones I have purchased, and ones that I grew up with and have been handed down to me when Mom replaced them on her tree. I tend to have a taste in decorations that is much like my taste in all things - classic, timeless and traditional mixed with tacky, silly and off-the-wall. While I try to stick to a general color scheme of red and silver, I must admit that I don't feel an ornament collection to be complete without a pickle…..or glitter fruit….. or a fat cat that looks like a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon….

The first Christmas we were married, I decorated the apartment with what I could fit. The place was too small to have a tree, so we had the Christmas Chair, under and around and behind which we put the presents. I hung ornaments on the built-in shelves of knick-knacks. And I put up lights where ever I could manage. Michael’s comment on the whole thing was, “Yeah, because chrome and red balls help me love Jesus more.” For which he got called a name I will not repeat here.

Last year, again having a crowded apartment, I decorated what I could for the season, but didn't want to do too much since we were awaiting Camille's arrival. We did have a tree, though, compliments of Michael's parents. It was one of those little, predecorated, potted ones. And though I loved it and had every intention of keeping it alive, newborn Camille and the 4 snow-falls in January put the kabosh on any motivation to go out on the balcony and water the poor thing.

This year Michael was at the library on the Sunday afternoon that I decorated. I pulled out the boxes that hold the decorations and again picked through them for what I had the whim and space to put out. We got another potted tree from Paul & Joyce (which I am determined to keep this time). And I even had the audacity to hang ornaments and tinsel on Michael's book shelves. And when he got home I told him that the Christmas Bunny came and threw up all over our apartment.

Because I'm just trying to get him ever closer to the true meaning of the season.