So while Friday was pretty uneventful, Saturday was probably at least as routine and run of the mill for the kids and me. Erin, on the other hand, had a very busy day of dog training clients, stacked up pretty much one after the other all day. While she was getting ready to sally forth, I did a few things around the house and got ready to take the kids grocery shopping.
Asta observed the busying around from our movie theater seats. I include this note and picture only because it is pretty darn cute.
The kids did well at the store, and we got everything we need for the week. By the time we got home, Henry was definitely tried and running pretty thin, so I had to help guide him down from near meltdowns a couple of times. It can be tough sometimes, but all the work he and we have been doing definitely help us get through, work with each other, and he’s able to come back down.
By the time I got things put away and Henry on track, Erin got home and we were all ready for a evening very light on the activity scale. I did just have one errand left to run. Sunday would be the last day of our town’s Christmas tree recycling program. I had taken the tree out a week ago, but hadn’t gotten around to dropping it off, so I figured I’d better get that done.
I got it strapped to top of the car, I thought pretty well. But about a mile into the journey I noticed way more of the tree showing up in my back window than when I started. I pulled off, and sure enough…it was hanging on by quite literally a thread. I got it resorted more solidly, and made it the rest of the way with no incident, thankfully.
Once there, I unloaded it and took it back to join its tree brethren. It would be one with the former-Christmas-tree universe. “Firvana,” if you will.
I am a sentimental sop and always do find these drop offs bittersweet. It gives real finality to the end of the holiday season and moving on to something new. It is corny, but I always say goodbye to the tree, and thank it for bringing so much joy to our family. Obviously I know the tree can’t hear me or understand, but I still think it’s good to express gratitude to and for all things. For me, I find that appreciation inspires mindfulness and optimism, two things that do not come naturally to me. It is a helpful exercise.
This year’s was a really nice tree. It wasn’t the most perfectly shaped or full tree that we’ve had, but it had its own beauty AND, perhaps most notably, even though we had it up probably longer than any tree before, it shed shockingly few needles. It did it’s job and didn’t clog up the vacuum cleaner with mountains of needles, which usually we continue to find right up until it’s time to get a new Christmas tree.
After that, it was a little carryout and hanging out, and we called it a night. A simple Saturday.
