It was quickly approaching that wonderful time of year, Christmas, and yet despite the cheer this thought was bringing to our otherwise stressful lives (assessments were happening and/or approaching) it felt like something was missing in our lives. After a small amount of contemplation, the realisation hit that we hadn't got a tree and we hadn't decorated a tree. This may, when you think about it seem like a small inconsequential habit that we carry out yearly but actually we found in its absence it meant a lot more to all of us (I use us to indicate my exchange family: to see exchange family see previous posts).
For me the Christmas tree is a family event. Dad goes to get the tree, Kat and I then proceed to put it into our base and try to get it upright with input from both parents. Then Kat and I proceed to put lights and some of the decorations, that mum has previously organised, onto the tree. I then decide it looks lovely and minimal (basically I get bored :P) and then Mum and Kat continue to add the rest of the decorations while I direct from afar, finally we all gather to put the Angel on top.
Back to this year (well last now), Monique between classes, revision and generally having fun went to the superstore and got us a tree and decorations. After much hacking with various tools later it was standing 'reasonably' straight in its base. It stayed like this for a while until people had finished class and could gather in Monique's room for the great decorating. It was at this point Monique and I almost had our first argument. We were casually discussing the tree and what would go on top. Monique thought Santa should be on top of the tree. I on the other hand am used to an Angel but was also willing to have a star atop the tree. There was an intense moment, time might have stopped I'm not sure, where we just stared at one another, trying to gage if the other would fold. The moment passed and we came up with a compromise, Santa would hold a star, and we congratulated ourselves on embracing part of the spirit of Christmas: give and take, we forgot though that other people might have opinions.
A while later we all gathered to decorate the tree and the 'what's going on top of the tree issue' returned. Other people also were used to an Angel and wanted to see and Angel and I had to agree it would be odd to have to Angel, and the Santa people wanted a Santa, and the Star people a star. So, a new compromise needed to be reached, and it was. We had one of each. The top of our tree was very full.
We then proceeded to get all the baubles ready, except that the pack we had gotten didn't have any hook in it so we improvised by using my small elastic hair bands. Once they were all prepared we were just about to start putting them on the tree when I came up with an idea. The idea: to write on one bauble each a word/ a couple of words about what Christmas means to us and then to put our name on the other side . Everyone agreed this was a good idea so the silver sharpie was passed around. My word was Love. We the put these 'special' baubles on the tree first, then attacked the tree with the rest of them until there were none left. A few minor adjustments, to even it up, later and our tree was complete and our Christmas sprit back on track.
(I going to add photos of the tree but I'm still waiting for them to be sent to me, I will add them when I have them)
