A lot of folks have 'theme' trees. All the ornaments match, the lights are all one color, everything hangs just so...
Candy cane trees, South West trees, pink trees, blue trees, snowman trees, angel trees.
Our tree, on the other hand, is a Family Tree.
It doesn't match. It has no unity. It's a mish mash of styles, themes, types. It represents our life. Us.
We have home made ornaments. Child made ornaments. Glass ornaments. Vintage ornaments. Horses, dogs, angels, clowns (shudder) tractors, candy canes, even a few of the ever present, over done glass ball ornaments. (I apologize if you are a glass ball fan, They just have never done it for me. ;) )
Each ornament represents something from our life over the past 2 decades.
Each child has a 'first Christmas' ornament. Many of the ornaments were gifts. Quite a few were never intended to be ornaments to begin with but I hung some string on them & put them on the tree & there you go.
It's a jumble. A collage. A kaleidoscope of color & memories.
See, THAT's why the balls don't do it for me. Say your tree is all decorated in red balls. How do you tell them apart? Do you have a memory for each one? Do you remember when you got it? Who you got it from? Does it have your child's name scratched out in crayon on the bottom?
I look at my mish mash & I CAN remember where I got almost every single one. Who made it. Who brought it back from Mexico for me. Where I bought it. Why. What friend it brings to mind.
Christmas trees are special. They aren't a decoration. Or a fashion statement. Or a vehicle for a theme.
They are you. Your life. Your family.
In a discordant, color clashing jumble of mixed mediums that come together to make the prettiest tree ever.
Each & every year.
They are are something that make little children gasp & squeal & ooooooohhh with delight.
And if yours doesn't?
You are doing it wrong.
Fix it. Change it. Make it right.
I have some 1960's elves I can loan you if you need them... :)
Blessings.
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