Amy Lu's View

I was surprised to feel a little remorse as we took down our Christmas tree today. 

I usually feel a little bit sad, but mostly relieved, to undertake this end of the holiday season task. But this year, as I felt the still-rather-soft, not-completely-dried-out needles, I thought, “Hmm, maybe this tree still has some “life” left in it. Maybe we shouldn’t be taking it down quite yet.” 

This was unusually early for us to take our tree down, but this Sunday when we didn’t have too much going on and StanLee was away at a playtime, seemed like a good opportunity. We probably typically wait too long to take down the tree. As Chad said, waiting until the needles are all dried out and falling all over the place isn’t ideal, and we usually pick a time when I’m just sick of the tree and grumpy and/or hungover. (Okay, the grumpy and/or hungover can really happen at any time but was NOT my state today). 

I did ask Chad if we should start naming our Christmas trees–would that make it easier to say goodbye to them? You know, like “Thanks, Bruce (yes, an homage to Bruce the Spruce), it’s been a pleasure to have you as a guest this holiday season, and now it’s time to wish you a fond farewell and throw you out in the snow bank.” Chad’s reply was “You’re adorable, and that’s a terrible idea–we’d NEVER get rid of a tree we named.”

My Christmas tree quandary got me pondering exits–was P.T. Barnum right? Should you “always leave them wanting more”? My tree definitely left me wanting more–at least a little. A little more light, a little more specialness. 

But, I am also ready to not have to deal with dead needles and relieved that we got the ornaments put away. I’m relieved that the stress of the holidays is over, too.

When is it a good time to let go? Perhaps when you’re not quite ready, but before you are totally over it. (Yes, “it” can be a Christmas tree or many other things in life). 

AND…we still have a Christmas tree up! Yes, we took our real tree down today, but we still have our fake tree up. I’m sure it will be up at least until MLK Day–even if I don’t decide to make it a non-Christmas, holiday agnostic, running medal tree. 

Is this long goodbye to the holiday season healthy? I’m not sure, but it IS fortuitous because today, just after we had taken our real tree down, I got THE MOST awesome ornament from my friend Stephanie–Bernie Sanders looking pissed at the 2020 inauguration. Honestly, all winter holidays aside, Bernie is so awesome that he may become just a standard piece of our home decor (like our John Denver and K-9 ornament). 

Our Christmas tree has taught me a lot…know when to make an exit (write shorter blog posts?), know when to let go…and every day can be a holiday with Bernie.