OVER MY SHOULDER

From the time it started getting cool in the fall, the entire family would ‘keep an eye open’ for a well shaped cedar that could serve as our Christmas tree. Then along about two weeks or so prior to Christmas day, we would start our Christmas tree hunt in earnest. One would not want to cut a tree and bring it into the house very long prior to Christmas, as the tree would dry out very quickly, and not only ‘shed’, it would get dry enough to be a fire hazard. If it had been a particularly dry season, we would wait until it was only a few days prior to Christmas day, as the tree would be quite dry to start with.

On a given day---quite often it would be a Sunday afternoon---sometimes the whole family and other times Dad and we boys would take the axe and ‘buck saw’ and start out to find a Christmas tree that was ‘just the one’ for our house this year. Often it would be a cold day either ‘spitting’ snow, or maybe the ground would be covered with snow--- sometimes several inches deep--- requiring you to put on your four buckle overshoes---- the wind would be blowing enough to require that you put the ear flaps down on your winter cap, wrap the woolen neck scarf around your neck at least twice, turn the collar up on your coat --- button it clear to the top, and put on your gloves.

By this time of the year, everyone would have a location of the tree that was just right for the living room----Mom would remember one just south of Archie’s house on the east side of the road, Jim would remember one in the South pasture down near the hedge row, I would remember one that we saw when we were quail hunting along the North hedge row, Frank would remember one---but could not remember where it was, and Dad would just smile, and keep his tree location until all of the other ones had been checked out.

In most cases, we would walk---often pulling our sled along with us---on which we could haul the tree (or brother Frank if he played out) back to the house. Depending on which of us was the ‘surest’ that we had the correct tree located, we would start out to visit each site. Many times when we would approach the selected tree, we would discover that it had a broken limb---or a flat side---or that the top was broken out---or that it was larger than we had thought---or it was smaller than we thought---or that it just did not look like the correct one.

Usually, we would visit the site of each tree that had been discussed---sometimes, we would cut one with the idea that we will use this one---if we don’t find a better one. It always seemed to me that we had looked at every tree on or near the place and would not find ‘that tree’----when Dad would say “you know I think that I remember a tree near the west side of the South pasture, along the North fence that might be what we are looking for”.

Sure enough that tree would be perfect---just the right height, all of the limbs in tact, a good shape, full all the way around, and a good color. (I never did figure out whether in fact Dad was a good ‘tree picker’ and just wanted us to look at all of those trees---or if by the time we got to his tree, we were so tired and cold that any tree would look good to us.) As I think back on it---I would guess that Dad was enjoying the outing of the entire family and the ‘search’ just as much as we were, and did not want to bring it to a close prior to the full effect of the outing.

We would saw the tree off at ground level, tie it on the sled (which meant that Dad may have to carry Frank by the time we got back to the house) and head for the house. I can recall how excited that we were when we got to the house-----and gathered around that old wood stove. Usually, as we boys took off our winter clothes and boots, Mom would make some hot chocolate for all of us while Dad made a base and nailed it to the bottom of the tree trunk.

When Dad would bring the tree into the house, it would always ‘just fit’ the spot that we had picked out for it. It smelled so good and fresh (that cedar smell was in the house all of the days that the tree was there) ---stood so straight and tall, and made all of us feel that we were just days from Christmas. I remember that Mom had a beautiful ornament that we would put on the top of the tree. As I recall it was about 8 or 10 inches tall--mother of peral in color---a round bulb (no light) about 3 inches above the bottom, with a spire on the top of the bulb---(I would guess that someone had given it to her as gift even before we boys came along)---in any event that was the first item that would be placed on the tree.

By this time, it would be time for supper---which after an afternoon out in the cold, we were all ready for----except that the cows had to be milked--the eggs gathered----the chickens and the hogs fed---kindling and fire wood brought in for the evening and night and usually, the water bucket needed to be filled (which was done at the hand pump in the back yard a few yards from the back door). So---while each of us worked on our particular chore, Mom would prepare supper.

After the chores were all completed, we would all enjoy the good hot meal that Mom had prepared. Then after supper was done, the dishes were washed and dried----- (usually it would be one of we boys turn to dry or wash---never did figure out that when there were three of we boys----it seemed to be my turn every other time----but on this evening the main thing was to get them done and on to the evening activities.)----- we would ‘decorate’ the tree.

This was a fun evening----Mom would pop some pop corn, which we would with a needle and thread, string into a long string, making a long garnish to go around the tree multiple time. Usually Mom would have some cranberries that we would insert every few inches, so as to give us a red and white garnish. We would cut colored paper into strips, and glue (with flour and water paste) the ends together, looping one through the last, forming a colored chain of paper which would also be wrapped around the tree.

I recall that we had a few --- perhaps 8 or 10 round red thin glass balls that would be hung on the tree---I also recall how bad we felt if one of these got dropped or knocked of the tree and broken. The final thing that would go on the tree would be the few aluminum colored icicles that had been used for many years----carefully removed and stored from the previous year’s tree each year.

I can recall the pride and satisfaction that we would have when the last icicle was hung, (sometimes Frank would get tired and just throw the last few at the tree--- of course that was not good enough for Jim and I) and we would step back and look at the tree. Then it would be ‘pop corn ball’ time. Mom would pop some more corn, mix and ‘cook up’ the syrup that is used in making pop corn balls and mix a ‘batch’ of pop corn ‘makings’ (sometimes, we even had a few peanuts or pecan halves for the mixture) ready to be made into popcorn balls.

It was great fun to rub your hands with (real) butter, gather a hand full of the mixture, and press it into a pop corn ball. I remember those pop corn balls as being a lot better to eat then than they are now,------and we still use Mom’s recipe. (Maybe we have too much other choice, or maybe they are not prepared with the same love and spirit that they were at that time.) Some times we would hang several of the pop corn balls on the tree as decorations.

Some time over the next few days, we would attend the school and the Church Christmas program, where we would participate in that beautiful Christmas Story that never seems to become old and is always a new and fresh story, ----and sing those old traditional Christmas Carols that we have all sung all of our lives.

We carried this tradition on with our boys when they were at home---except that at some point someone convinced us that a ‘live’ tree was a fire hazard, and should be replace with an artificial tree----Seems to me that we lost a valuable and enjoyable part of putting up the tree----but am sure that it is safer. I trust that my boys are carrying the same tradition on with their children, and that their children will carry it on with their children etc.-----Particularly that part about the wonderful and beautiful Christmas Story of long ago.

About this time of a year on a clear night after one of those Church or School programs, when I go out into the cool night air, I believe that I can still hear those Carols, and can in the distance see that wondrous bright star in the East. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL. LDC