Oh Christmas Tree

Got my lovely little Grand Fir yesterday and love the smell of it in my house. I asked the guy where I buy my tree each year which tree will smell best/most, Grand Fir or Noble. "Grand Fir," he said. Something about it keeps producing sap even after cut and that's what makes it smell so good and so long.

"My mother always put aspirin in the water, so I do, too," I told him. Oh yes, that is right. He says it makes the tree take in more water and stay fresh a long time.

"I put my tree up the day after Thanksgiving and leave it up till New Year's Day. Throw in seven or eight aspirin when I water it, and it just keeps drinking." He said like a gallon a day. Must be a big tree, I thought.

But, he told me, it can't be the coated kind of aspirin. He just goes over to the Dollar Store and gets a bottle. "Lasts two seasons."

So. My tree is up, lights strung, waiting for ornaments. I quite like it and will do no whining here. I will say, though, that Paul called with plans to come help me get my tree. He'd bring Peter, too, he said. I kind of wish I hadn't beat him to it, because that would have been fun . . . and helpful (I'm not whining). But I appreciate the thought and will take the thought for the deed.

I asked the guy how long he'd been there selling trees. He said, "The place has been here 15 years, started up back when KMart was here." He was there the first year, then gone, but back now for 10 years. And it's his place. I trust him and I like him. Some people you just like, you know.

"Those were the glory days," he said, "when KMart was here." Why? They sold a lot more than they do now. And I remember lots more going on there in those days, lights and elves on a little Ferris Wheel, and louder music, and a bit more jollity. "Artificial trees have taken the business, too," he said. But he thinks maybe it's back on the rise. Well, I hope so.

He had one huge Douglas Fir there, like 18 feet tall, with a very big trunk. He said it came with his last shipment of trees and surprised him. He was not entirely pleased by the surprise. He said he'd make me a good deal on it and cut it so the trunk might fit in something. I had to refuse. It would fill my living room, if I could ever get it in there--which would require help from my whole family--and if I could then keep it standing.

I heard him make the same offer to some other folks. It didn't sell while I was there, but I'll drive by today and see if he's sold it yet.