Matter of Tradition

The Great Tree Hunt '09

Each year it's a family tradition to bundle up, load up, and head out to the local tree farm in search of the perfect tree. Each year is also becoming a family tradition where we heavily negotiate the size of tree we are looking for. I prefer one that takes no added climbing devices in the house in order to place the angel on top, whereas the rest of the family wants one that goes from floor to ceiling,... and of course, Max would prefer that we do major construction on the house in order to have vaulted ceilings.

It's also become a tradition as to who carries the sharp object into the wilderness. "I got the saw!",..."No, I do!!" This is usually where I step in and control the blade of death before we end up making the unnecessary trip to the ER. Once we have our tree cart, we are set for the long eighth mile walk into the tree field.

Our third standing tradition has always been that each member selects their number one choice before we go with the one I want. This year Sam and Max thought that mocking me should be added to the list of traditions as they selected their choices. Little did they know that if their tree selections had actually had tags on them - we would have been on our way home!












Once we find the tree, it's a family effort to cut it down. With the size tree we often hunt, it's worthy of Paul Bunyen, and surely worthy of all of us pitching in to bring it down. After dropping the mammoth size lumber, there's but one solitary tradition left to go - Hoisting the

Tree in Victory! I wouldn't recommend this unless you've had some sort of proper training and/or have been cleared by your doctor.


Merry Christmas Everyone!