IT HAPPENED EVERY YEAR!

It was the day before Christmas, about 3:30 pm, of every year. The doorbell would ring, and Mom would ring her bell button in the kitchen wall and allow Dad to enter the inner doors down stairs in our apartment building.

Slowly, Dad would climb the two flights of stairs to our third floor apartment. Leading Dad was a Christmas tree he had purchased on his way home from a half day of work.

Christmas Eve was full of many traditions in our family. There was the Christmas Eve fish dinner, the decorating of the tree, the midnight mass Mom went to, final present wrapping. But the one tradition that we all dreaded was the tree Dad brought home.

The tree was something that Dad felt was a responsibility. Get it the last minute and it would be cheap. His plan worked like a charm, except for one thing. IT WAS THE WORST TREE GOD HAD GROWN!

I know it sounds harsh, but it was so. The tree had TB or was dying of malnutrition, while balding quickly. As Dad ascended the stairway, the tree leading, the clearer he became behind the tree. We could pretty well know where he purchased the tree by following the fallen pine needles!

Well, Dad would proudly lean the scrawny tree in the little corner between the dining room and the parlor. It was shorter than I was, and I was between 3 and 9 years of age! But that did not end the tradition. We still had to take out the metal stand, the scene from Bethlehem, Mom’s relic of Bethlehem in a frame, and the lights. Topping the tree was a metal five-pointed star. A big fat pointed multi-colored bulb terminated each point on the star. Those very same pointed bulbs would be strung throughout the tree, on a black and white fabric covered wire.

After we set the tree up, wired it and topped it off, Pop would take out the bulbs. They were the same bulbs, every year, and round, nothing fancy. But yet the final tradition of the tree was about to unfold.

Now my sister Tess is basically a good person. She gets right into things, the spirit and all, and tradition is her middle name. But we still had to do the tinsel, and Tess was about to do her tradition. Dragging in a chair from the kitchen, she would grab a handful of tinsel and toss it up on the top of the tree. From down where I was it was impressive. But what really impressed me, every year, year after year, was how she fell off the chair and knocked down the tree! Truly magnificent! And every year, Dad would in his own way, state his appreciation, and I quote: “&^$&^^*&(&%^$^%$ &T$^&^*<, *)(&^%$^&$%i!” Yes, Dad was impressed too!

Every year at this time, when I decorate my own tree, I stick it in the tree stand, and for old times sake, knock it down. It wouldn’t be Christmas without it.

So, this year I want to thank all my loyal friends and relatives, and if by chance, I don’t know you, I hope this holiday seasons is the best yet for all of you. May your tree or Chanukah bush stand straight and tall, and never fall. To my Jewish friends, let’s hope for peace and tolerance from all. To my Christian friends, remember what the holiday means, and let’s try to practice it. To black, yellow and white alike: Peace!

I will take the day of Christmas off, and be back on the 26th.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Please remember Joan and DD, and those of us who need our prayers.