A Magic Tree

outdoorsfan

outdoorsfan

Joined
Sep 30, 2009
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2,351
Let me preface my Christmas story with a bit of background for context.....

My Dad passed away last year on Labor Day. He had been ill for quite some time and his condition pretty much followed the course that the doctors predicted. As you can imagine, this was of some minimal consolation but it was still very difficult, especially for my Mom. She had been his daily caretaker for the last years of Dad's life and this was a huge responsibility for her. Due to his condition, he wasn't the best patient some of the time.

When Chrstmas came last year, my Mom was still pretty depressed and did not want to really celebrate the holidays (which had always been big in our house) refusing to even set up the tree or decorations. It was pretty easy to see that her heart just was not in it. Things have gotten better over this last year for her, she is becoming more and more active and has picked up several hobbies to help fill her day. She is now regularly going out with friends and neighbors as well as crocheting blankets for the less fortunate, all of which is positive.

I convinced her that she should go ahead and decorate this year. While she was a bit reluctant, once I went there and got the tree out and set up, she jumped in with both feet, decorating the tree and putting up all her lights and decorations. It was good to see her finally have some Christmas spririt again! The tree in particular holds a special place as the tree was one of Dad's favorite parts of the holidays. As far back as I can remember, he would sit at the end of the evening in the front room, with all the lights except for the tree off, just enjoying the beauty of the tree and all it's sparkle, garland and ornaments. As I got a bit older, I would sometimes join him sitting in silence, enjoying a glass of eggnog and a few Christmas cookies, looking at the tree.

In the mornings now, I sometimes get ready at my Mom's house to avoid the chaos of two teenagers and a wife who returned to school all trying to share one shower and get ready in an hour. It makes everything less stressful and I think my Mom enjoys having me there more frequently, which is good for both of us.

This morning, I was at her house, getting ready to head out the door, and I put my coffee cup in the sink. I paused for a second and looked down at the cup thinking why would I leave that dirty cup in the sink for my mother to wash. I then washed the cup and put it upside down in the dish rack. As soon as I set the mug in the rack, I heard the gentle, yet very distinct jingling of a bell on the Christmas tree. At first, I was startled but as I walked into the front room where the tree is, I felt calm and happy. I almost don't want to say this but it felt like my Dad was there and pleased that I was trying to take care of Mom. There was no one there, the lights were off and the faint glow of the rising sun shed just enough light to see. There are no pets in the house, the vent for the heat is on a different wall and blocked from blowing on the tree by furniture and I am pretty sure there are no mice in my Mom's house.

Christmas is a special, somewhat magical time for me and it always has felt that way. I have never lost the excitement for it, even as I have gotten older and jaded about other things. Maybe, somehow, I just got a very special early present.
 
Thank you for sharing such a special moment. I hope you and your family have a Wonderful Christmas.
 
Thanks for sharing. I agree, your Dad was there, and pleased he raised a good son who takes the time to be with his Mother. Last year, right before Christmas, Connie and Angie went to a Ladies Night Out in Braidwood, where there are special shopping discounts for the ladies on merchandise from several shops. There was a palm reader there, and Connie had her palm read. The reader told Connie that a tall man was always watching over us. (my Dad was 6'4" tall), and she described him perfectly. Several times when I was out in the shop, strange things have happened, like the grinder shutting itself off just as I slipped and my hand hit the belt, or the drill press not turning on untill I remembered to clamp the steel, not hold it.
 
Thanks guys! I hope you all get touched by the spirit of the holidays. With so many tragedies and hard days of late, I am sure we all could use something good to believe in.
 
Christmas was always my Mom`s favorite holiday, she would really go all out when we were kids. A typical Christmas eve would go something like this. My Dad always had to work a half day on Christmas Eve, so we would get up early and he would drop us off at my grandmother`s house in Berwyn at about 6 am. My Uncle John, who lived with my grandmother, would go out to buy a tree in the morning (think Charlie Brown Christmas, the tree was always scraggly), and we would decorate it with those lights where if one was out, or loose, none would work. Of course every bulb would need to be checked. In the afternoon when my Dad got off work, we would open presents, then around 6 pm we would go to my other grandmother`s house in Mokena (4 houses down from where I live now), and have dinner there. On Christmas Day everyone would come to our house, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, grandparents, and cousins, so it was a housefull! All of that ended when my Mom died on Christmas Eve in 1968 when I was 15. Now we try to go all out for our grandkids, I hope we do half as good.
 
wow. i love these stories. i don't have the words, but thanks very much for sharing (both Sean and John).
 
Awesome story Sean!

I do also love the tree!

Unfortunately, our family is large and dispersed, so we wind up having multiple gatherings, just this year none will be at my house, so we did not even put up a tree this year. Makes me a little sad - but your story brightened my day!

best

mqqn
 
Great stories Sean & John,thanks for sharing 'em.
It sure makes you wonder don't it.
 
Thanks for sharing your story, Sean,

Christmas is a bitter sweet time of the year these days I have to admit, but there is still something magical about the season, it's a wonderful time of year, as they say. And it is a time for family, past, present and future. :)

Also as the dishwasher of our house, i thank you ;)
 
My dad really loved Christmas, too. Last year was the first one without him and it was really difficult. I still miss him so much but this year I think that we will all think of him and remember fondly, with a little more warmth than grief. Thank you for sharing your story.
 
Rob Babcock said:
My dad really loved Christmas, too. Last year was the first one without him and it was really difficult. I still miss him so much but this year I think that we will all think of him and remember fondly, with a little more warmth than grief. Thank you for sharing your story.
Click to expand...

I can totally appreciate your feelings. Luckily time soothes even the wounds that may never fully heal.
 
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