Issue #42 Oh Christmas Tree...
Oh Christmas Tree…
Hans Christian Andersen messed me up.
Between the “Little Mermaid” who commits suicide rather than kill the man she loves, (yes, that’s what really happens in the story regardless of the “happily ever after” you were fed by Disney) the “Little Match Girl” who freezes to death in the cold winter night while fantasizing about a holiday feast, and the “Little Fir Tree” who dreams of glory but then finds itself on a funeral pyre, the man has a lot to answer for.
As depressing as the Mermaid and the Match Girl were to “child me”, it’s the one about the Christmas tree that I think of at this point every year.
The point at which our fresh evergreen - still seemingly full of life and gulping down gallons of water - isn’t.
And begins flinging things at me to get my attention.
When I’m lucky, I hear a “thud” as one of the sturdier decorations hits the floor.
But this year it was one of my favorite vintage glass ornaments that silently screamed before crashing into tiny bits.
A hapless pawn in the game between me and the collection of branches in my living room that is now most assuredly dead.
How does it get to this point?
It’s simple.
Because I have deprived the tree of its potentially long quiet life in the forest, I feel compelled to give it as much opportunity to stand in decorated splendor as possible.
For as long as possible.
And it’s Andersen’s fault.
For convincing me that the tree cares.
Copyright© 2023 Anne Morse Hambrock All rights reserved.
On A Lighter Note…
Sadly, true…
Knitting Stash Progress
A few years ago a friend called up and asked if I wanted to drive out into farm country and attend something called a “goat jubilee”.
Puzzled as to what kind of fancy party goats might be able to pull off, I said yes.
It turned out to be a sort of wool festival with shearing exhibitions and vendors purveying all kinds of goat and sheep fiber goodies.
Including something called “Utility Alpaca”.
It was quite coarse, but I love regular alpaca yarn - and it was really cheap - so I bit and brought a couple bags home.
It didn’t feel very nice to the touch so I didn’t really know what to do with it for a long time. Until I tried washing a sample to see if it would “felt”.
And got a marvelous fluffy result.
My current resolution regarding knitting pushed me to finish, and felt, this lovely hat and scarf.
Keep The Messages Coming!
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I appreciate the feedback and knowing how often I have struck a chord with your lives.
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