Photo Cred Ani Fete
What holiday memory do you cherish most? At this time of year, more than at any other time, we reach for those memories like a lifeline to the past, to bring us joy, comfort, and peace. This is the story of one of my favorite memories.
My cousin, Ani, recently posted this picture of one of my Grandma Myrt’s trees. Grandma Myrt had two Christmas trees—a traditional one and a definitely non-traditional tree.
She collected many blue and silver beer cans from my relatives, and along with some ribbon, decorated a tree that was quite memorable.
For many years, this metallic silver tree stood proudly in the corner of her small kitchen decorated with these beer cans, large pretzels, and at times red ribbon for a touch of color.
While it wasn’t the “normal” tree, it was uniquely Grandma Myrt.
It wasn’t the tree that we all gathered around to sing Christmas carols while Grandma played her organ, and it wasn’t the tree under which we put all our gift exchange presents. But this little tree was as unique and memorable as Grandma herself. It was one of a kind.
And while the tree itself was memorable, it was what happened one Christmas that I remember most.
One of the grandchildren, I’m not sure which, but it was one of the younger ones, decided to get a closer look at one of the ornaments on the tree. Of course, the tree wasn’t giving up its decoration easily, and the entire tree toppled over. The force of the fall caused the aluminum cans to fall off and go rolling across Grandma’s old linoleum floor.
Quite the noise, to be sure!
And quite memorable.
Decades have passed, and I can’t even remember what gifts I received that year, but this memory is still vivid, just like it was yesterday.
I hope you make a special memory this holiday season that you’ll remember for years to come.