Oh Christmas Tree

Thanksgiving was over before I knew it, but I think Christmas will be another story...the traditional Christmas that I have known for my entire life is a wonderful, festive, multi-day event, and I love every minute of it. But this year, things will be very different being in China. The city of Shanghai has surprisingly put up decorations, even though it is not a nationally recognized holiday. Even with all of the decorations, it is just not the same as being home with my family...

Here's a golden tree in Shanghai, in front of the Gucci store, no less!


So, to get more in the mood, last night we bought and decorated our little tree, and it's lovely...Kos wants to keep it up until spring! We'll see about that!

Our little tree...


There are some good memories of Christmas trees from the past: one year, back when everyone bought REAL trees (a tradition I hope to restore soon!), apparently my sister and I cried and cried when it was time for the tree to be taken down...imagine 2 screaming girls bawling their eyes out as their father dragged a tree to the curb of a driveway! I'm not sure if we were more upset that Christmas was over, or if we just really loved that tree...

Another year, we all awoke to my mom calling for help...as we came down the stairs, we saw a fully decorated tree on top of our helpless mother! Apparently as she watered the tree, she knocked it off balance, and it fell on top of her! It was really quite a sight!

As hard as it will be not to be home, I will make the best of Christmas here...