Silver lining

Silver lining, gold lining, sparkly, pretty. The season is upon us. We get to decorate! I absolutely LOVE the Christmas season. I took my tree up from the cellar and made a day of it. My tree is special. Last year I decided to change things around and bought very fancy ornaments. All in black, red and gold. It was pretty but I missed my usual decorations.

Personal

My tree is very personal. Years ago I started collecting tree ornaments wherever I went. I was a travel agent at the time and got to travel the world. One of my most bizar purchases was a snowman ornament on a beach in the Bahama’s. It was up to 100+ degrees. A salesmen had put out a booth on the white sand and sold Christmas items. So much fun.

Special

Some ornaments are very special. Most remind me of where I was at the time I bought it. Not just physically but emotionally and spiritually as well. I grew up over the years I started collecting. But how I love the memories. Sometimes I let personal growth decide what to buy that year for my tree. I mean, I’ve been in the States so many times, I have quite a few US ornaments taking up space.

Souvenirs

So not all of the precious items are souvenirs from places I’v been to. Some are souvenirs of special occasions, or of people I loved. I have an antique bird on a top branch the sister of my grandma gave me. My grandma passed away long before I was born, but her sister and I got along very well. I loved her. Just before she passed away she gave me her little Christmas bird. He gets a special spot in my tree every year.

Books

The year I graduated from the Writers academy I got a miniature stack of books holding a diploma on top. Perfect! So over the years I collected so many memories that my tree gets to be more and more MY tree. My special tree. And it takes me forever to decorate the tree. Every ornament is treasured and memories pop up before it gets its special place for this Christmas.

Tacky

I’ve sometimes hear whispers that my tree is ‘tacky’ from people who visit for the first time around December. I don’t care what anybody says. I love my tree. And funnily enough, when they look at it a little closer and understand what and why those sparkly things are they like it better and better. I’ve even met people inspired by my tree and doing the same thing.

Silver lining

So make your own traditions this time of year. Make that silver lining, or gold, or green and red, and enjoy! The spirit of Christmas starts early. The merrier you are, the merrier the people around you. Because silver linings spread. It’s what they do. We are all connected by little silver threads.