by Julie Hartnett

Created on: December 05, 2008   Last Updated: December 15, 2009

Joanne struggles to push her nine foot tree through the front door.

Joanne: Kids? Anyone?

There's silence in the house. Wedged between the tree and the door, she gives the tree one final pull.

Joanne: I guess it's me and you tree.

(She puts the tree into the stand and begins a conversation with the big pine. Busying herself with the task at hand)

Joanne: The kids are always laughing at me, you know. They're at that age. Can I call you 'Piney?' Piney it is. Well Piney, I have always been what you would call 'organized' but no one seems to understand that when decorating a Christmas tree, it's important to have everything you need in front of you.

(She pauses as if listening to a question)

Joanne: What do you mean, "why?" Well, it's really all about the color combination. So, I have each color separated. I start at the top, making sure not to neglect the back. And you have to stand back every now and then just to make sure the spacing is right. Then there's the special box: this is it here

(She gingerly opens a plain white box)

Joanne:This is every ornament made by the kids, macaroni and pipe cleaners everywhere.

(Joanne slumps down in front of the box, holding a single ornament)

Joanne: No, Piney, I'm fine...really. It's just, I try every year to make Christmas great. I make the turkey, the stuffing, the pies...Hell, I even make cranberry sauce from scratch! Look, you don't really wannna hear this. I'm okay.

( A single glass ball falls from a branch and crashes to the ground)

Joanne: Okay, okay, I'll tell you...just don't break anything else! (She takes a breath and closes her eyes). I remember putting the tree up with my parents every year. When my Dad died, it was just me and my Mom, Dorothy. She would've liked you. She felt the loss more than anyone but still, she made sure we put that tree up together every year. Even when I was arriving a day before Christmas, she would wait until I walked in the door, two toddlers and three suitcases in hand. All the ornaments were laid out, separated by color with this one special white box. My daughter's 15 and could care less that I'm decorating the tree by myself. I asked her to be here and help me out. I told her it would be fun. I was really kidding myself. This is the first year I'll do this on my own. I know Mom's gone and I've dealt with that but I thought I'd prepared myself for this. Every single ornament has a story. Each one, my mother's aging hand would hold in front of me and tell me where she bought it

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>