Too Soon

Just a few days ago I hauled out the old Christmas tree leaving a trail of needles across the foyer, down the sidewalk and to the curb. It was tree pickup day and I left my old friend of 2010 alone by the street to be picked up and recycled.

"Don't worry, old friend, I'm sure you'll be mulched into a yard that earns the coveted Yard of the Month award, not that we were ever a contender. It's a far, far better place you go than any place you've gone before."

I sloped back to the house, slowly, reflecting on Christmas past and the poignant sadness that accompanies the end of the Christmas season, my favorite.

Back in the house I mopped up the water that spilled from the tree holder, packed up it's bits, dried them and oiled them and put them in the box. As I put the box on the shelf in the garage I thought, you know, I'll be pulling you guys back off in a few days. Yeah, a "few days" would be a year.

Today.

I pulled the tree stand box off the shelf, pulled out the parts and inspected them. No rust, no corrosion. Yeah, I did a good job of cleaning them up for another year, and here it was that time.

Another year. Could it be possible? Did I fall asleep only to awake at Christmas time? Am I Scrooge? No, it had been a year and a year full of activity. I had many Scouting events to attend in 2011 including the 22nd World Scout Jamboree in Sweden, and a delightful stay in Paris and a cruise up the Danube. A full year and here we were again at the end. And the beginning.

I hauled out the venerable sheet of plywood that supports our Christmas tree every year, blew the cobwebs off and gave it a light sanding. Ready for another year, my friend?

Once again I trimmed the stump of the tree, removed the lower branches and screwed the trunk into the tree holder who seemed to relish the moment. Oh, another chance to hold the Tree, straight and proud! Yes, and no cat climbing!

They say that Christmas comes once a year but lately it seems to come once a day. Surely it was only yesterday that I put up the decorations and a day later, today, I'm taking them out again. Not that I mind, though. Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

Peace on Earth, Good will toward men. Nothing wrong with that, other than it used to be a long time coming.

Hey, Kink, ornaments!