[Marilyn]

Our Christmas tree is a big deal for us. It was up a little later this year, but usually is up 2 to 3 weeks before Christmas, all decorated and lighted. This is what really gets us in the Christmas spirit. We have a real tree, even though hubby has been threatening to get artificial. We take it down around New Years. This year it came down Saturday before New Years because it was a convenient time. Christmas has good childhood memories for me.

However, one bad Christmas tree memory was the year we got married. Our aniversary is December 22. I got home from college that year, and my parents did not have our tree up. They were waiting for me to do it. The tree would not fit into the stand, so I was on the back porch hacking at the bottom of the tree with a butcher knife. I missed the tree and cut the index finger on my left hand near the base of the finger. It went really deep. I think it hit bone, but fortunately did not cut the tendon. My father would not let me go to the doctor. Should really have had stitches, but I splinted the finger with popsickle sticks, tape and a bandage. This was about a week before my wedding, so on wedding day, it had healed enought that I had a bandaid over it, and held my finger very straight. Still have the scar to remember that one by. At first I thought I had cut my finger half off. Freaked me out!!!