Why you might ask, and I assure you my wife did… repeatedly : ) Well, it helped that it was artificial and I safely could and the skeptical might focus on that it was large and complex and would (and did eventually) take a half a day to take down. Truth is while the lazy/procrastination gene was certainly a factor, it is also true that in a strange way I found the tree an excellent daily reminder to keep the Christmas Spirit alive in my heart and in my deeds daily.

What was this Christmas Spirit I sought to find year-round? Well, below is a little edited version from ChatGBT:

The Christmas Spirit: The overall mood, atmosphere, and shared feelings of joy, generosity, kindness, and goodwill that are associated with the Christmas season, encompassing a sense of warmth, love, and compassion that people often feel during this festive time of year.

Generosity: inspiring acts of kindness/spirit of giving.

Love and Togetherness: a time for families and friends to come together, share meals, celebrate each other’s company. The emphasis on love and connection is a significant aspect of the Christmas spirit.

Joy and Celebration: a general sense of a positive, uplifting atmosphere.

Kindness and Compassion: a tendency to be more considerate.

Hope and Renewal: the promise of new beginnings. Many find inspiration in the idea of renewal and the start of a new year.

I also like to add that my wife and son typically travel to the old country for a few weeks every summer and I would often leave the tree lights on much more than usual, finding their glow strangely and wonderfully comforting, reminding me of strong even if faraway family connections and loving embraces to come. In the course of time, many of the lights burned out and the tree came down, but the memory and the inspiration live on.

Closing Quotes:

“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing, but of reflection.” – Winston Churchill, 1874-1965

“He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.” – Roy L. Smith, 1887-1946

“I will honor Christmas in my heart and try to keep it all the year.” – Scrooge, Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, Christmas Carol

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier