Life As My Christmas Tree
Christmas trees are one of my favorite holiday traditions. As the season drew near, I wasn’t even sure that we’d get a tree this year — not only did we get a tree, WE GOT A REAL ONE.
Life began for my little tree at a nursery in Ramallah. A friend took us to the nursery to help us get a good one. Jonathan and I were given two Christmas tree options: this one and another one that looked exactly like this one, except it was already set up in the nursery’s office and was covered in Christmas decorations.
The slight problem with a potted tree is that it can’t fit in your backseat, and it won’t work on the roof of your car, so…it goes home in the trunk. The drive home went at about 15km/hour.
December 10, 2012
Now. We live on a very steep hill. I was wondering how this would be handled and was surprised to learn that if you are transporting a Christmas tree, it is 100% acceptable to pop the car in reverse and drive backwards up the hill. Expected even!
Christmas trees are serious business.
After safely depositing the tree at home, we had the serious task of procuring decorations. Between The Santa Store and Hussary Book Shop, we found awesome (read: glittery) ornaments.
December 11, 2012
Our Christmas tree lights have about 15 different settings that range from “on” to “seizure-inducing.” While it lasted, my favorite thing to do was to put on the Yule Log app, crank up the space heater, and sit in front of the tree with a book.
December 12, 2012
And what Christmas is complete without stockings for Santa Claus? There is obviously not a fireplace in my apartment, so the stocking was hung on that weird, tube-thing with care.
December 14, 2012
Luckily, Jonathan and I were good this year, so Santa came on Christmas morning.
December 25, 2012
Like many former retail workers, I am a big proponent of not. rushing. the holiday. That being said, I am also a fan of not rushing out of the holiday season. I like to leave the tree up for a while and soak it up… This year was no different. The tree was up for Orthodox Christmas on January 7th and would still be up today, most likely, except that I’m leaving for vacation tomorrow (!!!) and didn’t want the thing to die alone and inside.
December 11, 2012
Now, the tree lives on my balcony. We’ll see if Jonathan and I can keep it alive. Our track record is not great.
January 23, 2013
Another great post . . . with a wonderful storyline and more great pictures. Your new career is photojournalism for people who want that special creative perspective. Enjoy Hobbit-ville.
I would totally do that. Probably need a better camera though…