This is the story of a traditional Christmas tree with colored lights.
A tree with humble beginnings.
A tree with a checkered past and a dubious, at best, welcome into its current home. She was awkward as she made her way into this new home. She didn’t really know where to stand. In the corner of the living room? Gazing out the front window? She eventually found her way to the center of the large open concept room where all in the family could admire her.
You see…she was abandoned in the attic of a rehab house. Her previous owners just left her there. She wondered…
Did they forget about her in their haste to pack the moving truck?
Did they not like her anymore?
Did she not twinkle and shine enough to make them love her?
Was she disposable? Replaceable?
Was it because she had colored lights and not the coveted white lights so many now love?
She pined away in the attic wondering if she would ever shine again.
Then one day, a handsome man peeked his head in the attic and noticed her. He opened her box and then carried her down to his truck. She hoped she wasn’t going to the landfill, the cemetery of forgotten and abandoned trees. Later that day she found herself in a new attic along with several other trees that had been placed here by the man. She hoped someday she would come out of the attic and shine for him. She was so happy he had saved her from the empty house.
Several months later he came back for her, took her down out of the attic and set her up in the driveway along with the other trees he had collected. His wife came out onto the driveway and went down the line looking at each tree.
“This one is too short” she said about the first tree. The traditional tree with colored lights tried to look as regal as she could and put extra twinkle in her lights. The wife came to the next tree, “This is a good tree for the master bedroom”. She was next. As the wife approached she wished and dreamed she would be chosen. The wife inspected her, twisting her branches and fluffing the needles. Then she said to the man, “I know you love colored lights but they are just so hard to decorate with that designer look”. The traditional tree with colored lights wanted to tell the wife that she could be so beautiful if she would just give it a try. The traditional tree with colored lights was delighted when the wife told the man to bring her inside.
She was fluffed and arranged and plugged in. She sparkled and twinkled and tried to be the most spectacular tree ever. The wife put turquoise ribbon on her…and then took it off. She put cream colored ribbon with gold stitching… and then took it off. She huffed and puffed as she tried to find just the right decor.
The traditional tree with colored lights watched the wife tuck in pale blue poinsettias and branches covered in flocking. She watched her fluff white tufts of batting and lay them on her branches. She felt the weight of big ornaments go on her branches and she held herself straight and proud. She knew her colored lights were pretty and as the wife decorated the branches she could see the wife was beginning to think so too.
Finally, when she was trimmed and decorated, the wife called her family into the room and told them to stand back while she turned on the tree. As her lights came on and the family looked at her with amazement, she felt herself swell with pride.
The wife walked up to her and said, “You are beautiful”. Then, to her surprise, the traditional tree with colored lights whispered back, “So are you”.
Here’s to the first official, Merry Christmas of the season.
I too used to have the all white light tree, but missed the multi-colored lights of my childhood. And, I missed the things my (now grown) sons had made over the years to place on the tree, but they “didn’t go” with the all white, crystal, gold, silver ornaments on the tree in my living room. Well, one year I went for it. I bought another tree for my great room and made it a family tree – things my kids and grandkids made went up first and I decorated that tree with every multi colored ornament I had, plus lovely, lovely multi colored lights and it was everyone’s favorite tree. It was the first one that had it’s lights turned on every morning and the one I looked at when I had my morning coffee. The fancy tree in the living room – well, it lasted a few more years until I realized that trendy wasn’t for me, family was for me. I do have a little white tree (under 4 ft.) now in my guest room with all my pretties, but forget to turn it on most days. I love my family tree and what it represents. I love your tree! Merry Christmas!!
Thanks Mimi! It has definitely grown on me. I think the older I get I realize it’s more about the family and what they love. Merry Christmas!
She is a true beauty of the Season….She will bring much joy to all! My main tree is filled with over 40 years of memories…Memories trump designer any day!….You created a most beautiful tree.
Shirley, what a compliment coming from you. I love your home because of its warmth and coziness. Thanks so much for stopping by and looking at my tree. 🙂
Nancy
Absolutely loved that little story! I want a tree with colored lights now!
Ha ha Susan! Let’s start a revolution toward colored lights. I’m hooked. Thanks for commenting. Merry Christmas!
Nancy
The orphan tree is quite lovely! She may be setting a trend with a colored lights…it is a very sweet story…I’m glad you rescued her…
I love that term, orphan tree. I think we are a family of rescuers. Rescued dogs…rescued trees. Somehow it all works. 🙂
Nancy
Such a lovely story…such a lovely tree. Merry Christmas…it feels so good to say that!
Doesn’t it feel good to say that? I can hardly wait to walk around downtown sipping hot chocolate and listening to Dickens carolers. Merry Christmas Jeanne.
Nancy
Awww, what a sweet story. Now I feel like going and giving my Christmas tree a hug!
You should totally do it! Just be careful of those needles…they can be picky…and the ornaments…well they can be fragile. Maybe blow her a kiss. Give her a wink and tell her she’s a stunner. 🙂
Nancy
Love it! We always have colored lights and tinsel.
Thanks Cheryl. I always love your tree! Hope you have a very merry season.
Nancy
It’s a beautiful tree, I love the ribbon topper. I’m always torn between white lights and the multi color lights so the last tree I bought I purchased one that you can have both – whichever one you are in the mood for.
Debi! That is so what I need! I am fickle by nature, sadly. That sounds like the perfect option for me. I saw one from Balsam Hill but it is big bucks. Where did you find yours?
Nancy
There is NO way this tree can be an orphaned tree! It’s way to pretty! I love the ornaments you chose and the colored lights too. It’s all beautiful. As always fantastic job! Hugs, CoCo
Love the story and the multi-colored tree is beautiful in it’s own unique way. I think keeping the decorations to a limited palette was a wise choice and balances with the light colors nicely. Happy Christmas season my dear! xo