My "Special" Christmas Tree!

I have a tree in my back garden that is very special!! I guess all trees are special, because like us - they are living things. I will explain more later, but for now I will tell you of my journey with this large fir tree.

It was already established in our garden when my husband and I bought the house quite a few years ago. He has since passed away but the tree remains! I can still picture him up the ladder sawing off branches that had extended too far, and climbing up inside it, to lop the top. I would anxiously watch him, thinking he may fall and break his neck! He didn't! But the time came when cancer took control of his body, and he could no longer climb up into the tree.

After my man passed I hired a gardener, but I didn't retain him, because he made such an awful job of trimming the tree! I can't blame him entirely, because I was guiding him! But between us we managed to make such a hash of it, and my beautiful looking tree now looked lopsided and ugly!!

It has taken almost four years for it to get back into good shape! But it has, and is looking lovely, despite some scars where limbs were removed. Luckily the verdant, green leaves are gradually covering these, and it is strong and healthy.

It seems to me that the tree is like us! In order to grow properly, we need to lose part of ourselves. Like the tree that sheds its leaves, or loses a branch or two - we can grow back, and be stronger for it ...

This tree has witnessed many happy events in my garden! Family and friends have sat under it, and enjoyed wonderful, summer occasions. At Christmas I decorate the tree, and Christmas Day is very special when our family members gather together. We sit at the table chatting, laughing, and eating under its canopy of leaves, and pretty trimmings. Bells, balls, stars, tinsel, and angels adorn it ... and this year I know for sure that a real angel will be  present, and maybe more ... but that is a story for another time ...

Jo St. Claire