Breaking with tradition

 I have always been one of those people who firmly believed that you shouldn't start decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving. The two holidays needed to be separate. Finish celebrating one before starting on the next. 

Part of that comes from when I was a kid. There was a store in downtown Omaha, where I grew up, that would cover the big windows that wrapped around the building in the middle of November. Then, on the day AFTER THANKSGIVING, there was a big reveal of the Christmas displays. It was a big deal. We would go down to the store to be there for the big unveiling. It was magical, and it meant that Christmas was well and truly underway. I loved it. And I think that the limited time of seeing the decorations and hearing the music made it all the more special. So that became the way that I did things. 

But 2020 is different.

Today is November 10th and I am putting up my tree. I am putting the colored lights on it and I am lighting it. I am not going to put the ornaments on it, nor am I going to put the other decorations up in my house, until Thanksgiving. 

I am doing it because I need a little magic in my life today. I'm doing it to remember my dad. 

A year ago today my dad took his leave of this earth and I am missing him. I was fortunate to be able to spend some extended time with him in the weeks leading up to his departure and I treasure that time. The dementia was taking over and clouding his mind. He spent a lot of time talking about the past, and his mother and brother who had gone before. He was sleeping a lot, but often when he woke up he would ask me what still needed to be done. When I asked him what he was talking about, he would say, "to get ready for Christmas". (It was September and October.) Now dad had never really been one to make a fuss. Mom used to decorate when we were kids, and then later, it was me who insisted on decorating his house for him. For as long as I can remember, his favorite Christmas character was the Grinch. So for him to be talking about this seemed like a big deal. I spent time helping him make lists and assured him that I would get everything he needed.

When I was heading down to Arkansas to see him for what ended up being the last time, my car was packed with Christmas decorations. I had intended to make his room look like the Christmasiest place in the world, just like he had been talking about. Sadly, I never got the chance, and he never got to see them. 

So today I am breaking out the tree, putting on the lights, and one single ornament...


My nephew painted this for me a few Christmases ago





Sometimes the "rules" need to be broken. (And in 2020 it really feels like most rules don't even apply right now.) So this year I am doing something different. Next year I may go back to the old way of doing things, but right now...twinkle lights for EVERYONE!
 


This one's for you, dad...🌲🎅💖

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