In my childhood, picking out a Christmas tree was a family affair, but everyone knew that the ultimate decision was made by Dad. He had this great ability to find the perfect tree every year. And decorating it was his thing.
We could help as long as we followed two basic rules:
1. Evenly space out the ornaments,
2. Make sure the various colors of ornaments were distributed appropriately (i.e. No two reds too close together)
Mom never approved of the way Dad tossed the icicles onto the tree, so he’d wait until she went into the kitchen and with a mischievous grin he’d fling a handful here, another there until it was to his liking. We never had an ugly tree. And, if the eggnog was flowing, the tree became a true work of art.
Perhaps this is why I pretty much spoiled the joy of tree decorating for my own family. So intent was I on trying to make the tree perfect, like Daddy did, that nothing short of perfection pleased me. All moms have regrets, this is one of my biggest: that my children never wanted to help decorate the tree because I had an unattainable image etched in my mind.
My apologies kids. Maybe this year we can have our laid back tree.
You’d never know it by looking at him, but the man was a tree decorating genius. I miss him so much.
Praying for Eyebrowz 
we always did the tree as mom and dad watched. I loved doing it, and had the same tradition for my kids. They loved it. I don’t even bother some years because no one is here to decorate with (Rick views it as a chore) and taking it down is twice the hassle as putting it up–especially alone–because there are no kids to make it easy. Kinda sad.
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I know exactly how you feel. I put mine up anyway this year, but years go by when I don’t bother as only I really enjoy it.
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I was in the mood to put up the big tree for all of ten minutes.
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We don’t put a tree up anymore if the kids won’t be here to see it. I miss having one, but obviously not enough to do something about it.
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I know the feeling. Same here, but this year the tree is up and resplendent, and I am enjoying it.
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Thank you for the memories! I enjoyed the tree-hunting with my Dad – actually, I enjoyed every minute with him, always. All of us either decorated or gave advice. All the items were changing places until everyone was happy.
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Reblogged this on Praying for Eyebrowz and commented:
I found this one while searching for another post. Gosh, I miss this man.
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The placement of the icicles were always a point of contention. When my human became an adult and we decorating her own tree, she eliminated icicles all together because the thought of them gave her flashbacks of icicles gone wrong! Merry Christmas!
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My cats have never known the joy of icicles. I worried they might be a choking hazard!
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A lovely post Leslie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Thank you.
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