O Christmas Tree

The day after Thanksgiving dawns bright and early. Millions of shopppers are poised at retail outlets ready to scoop up the post-holiday specials. I, myself am tucked snuggly in bed with my husband listening to the sounds my 3 children make as they start their morning. I am looking forward to this day of early Christmas preparations and lazy post Thanksgiving food.

My children however are looking forward to hunting down the best tree for our humble living room. They chatter about the decorations, the lights and their favorite ornaments from years gone by. After a brief internet search for local tree farms I settle on one only 10 miles down the road. In fact a neighbor of one of our friends, so I knew right where to go.

The boys jumped out of the car practically before it was parked. They ran towards the entrance and immediately were drawn to the fire pit. The fire held their interest for about 2 minutes before they laid eyes on the two beautiful, brown coated, tail waging girls barking in their pen.

I walked over to the Douglas Fir trees standing so nobly in a line. This one looks nice. It's about the right height. Ow, $55 a little more than I was expecting for small town Tennessee. I wonder over to the long needle White Pines. A fun little shape and surprisingly soft needles. I contemplate this variety of tree for a bit but decide the weight of my larger ornaments will pull down the fragile branches. So back to the first tree I liked for a second look. I move on down to the taller and fuller trees. $95, $135, $155....Well that certainly makes my $55 tree look like a bargain. Excuse me mister but I think I'll take this tree.

I gather the family in front of our treasure and point my camera in their general direction hoping I can capture a smile on each one of those dirty but adorable faces. I'm rather successful and without to much ado the tree is packaged and tied to the top of the car for our proud drive home.

The lights, What about the lights? Do we have enough? Will they still work from last year? O shoot, we better stop at the Walmart on the way home. No use making two trips. But wait a minute...It's Black Friday....Walmart? Seriously???

Seriously, we pulled into the crowded parking lot, but edged our way over to the garden center entrance. "Less people over here!" I think to myself. As the electronic doors open with that swish of a noise it makes, I hold my breath to see what mayhem lays before me. I see no one. Not literally, but seriously, no one is in line! I can't believe my luck. I immediately see the $2.98 light sets and think these will work. I grab 6 boxes then foolishly walk over to the larger display of lights to contemplate all my options. 400 light strands, LEDs, Red, Colored, Blinking, Netted, I could go on. I stand there dumbfounded while my children run around and my poor husband tries to coral them into better behavior. Having achieved Christmas light overload, I look down at the boxes in my arms and think "I'm sure these ones will do".

Now I'm not so lucky. There is a line about 6 people long. How did this happen? Where did all these people come from? Just a minute ago I could have walked out of here in 30 seconds flat.

After paying for our purchase I walk out of Walmart holding my youngest sons hand. He spots our tree perched on top of our car and says "Mom, we're the luckiest family at Walmart" and I agree. "Yes, Yes we are."