the Christmas story

it's fun to see how everyone makes their homes festive at the holidays.  our little town is putting on a magical light show as families get ready for the annual firehouse hayride and cider festivities this weekend.  i was actually shocked, as i drove into town last night, to notice that my house was visible from miles away.  yikes.  but cool.  stay classy, i always say.

i have special memories of decorating the Christmas tree when i was little.  the tinsel phase.  bubble lights.  the favorite ornament.  a childhood steeped in tradition.  as a young adult i worked painstakingly to create a tree that was a showpiece.  not that there was anyone to show, but i felt like it was the thing to do.  fancy.  the old ornaments were boxed and each year the tree was adorned in some new kind of "special."  then there were babies.  and all that fancy just seemed ridiculous (a collective eye roll and sigh from the family peanut gallery).

needed:  perspective.  

welcome the green m&m.  we picked this one up from the mall.  literally.  because when sp was 2 he wanted it for the tree and mommy said, "no way jose."  it didn't fit the "theme."  so he chucked it across the tile floor and the injuries sustained resulted in a total amputation of the right leg.  and $10, please.  i was so angry at the time.  because it was a tacky, $10, green m&m (not that there's anything wrong with that, lover of green m&m ornaments).  now when i lay eyes on it, funny memories surface.  no longer laced with misplaced bitter.  just one smile for my back pocket.  and the m&m hangs prominently in the front of the tree.  sans "theme."  reminding me that a family is built on memory and tradition.  however simple.  and green.