The days have gotten shorter, and there are no longer leaves on the trees. I miss the warm days that we had while we were in Big Bend. Mom spends a whole day bringing big boxes and large bags to the front porch. She put some green stuff around the door and some funny looking men on either side. Fred tells me they are nutcrackers. She also puts one on each side of the fireplace. She puts smaller ones in different places on the bookcases. I may just have to see if these are things I want to push to the floor. She brings one of the bags into the living room and another into the dining room. When she opens the bags, I crawl into smell the green stuff that is there. Fred tells me they are artificial Christmas trees. I wonder what is special about a Christmas tree, and why we have ones that aren’t real. Fred says it has something to do with Mom’s allergies. I’m not sure what that means, but I’m sure I will figure it out.

The tree in the living room is small enough to sit on the bench under the window between the bookcases. Once she has it in place, she goes to the dining room. That tree sits on the floor, and is much larger. While she is gone, I take the time to get up close and personal with that first tree. She starts laughing when she takes my picture. I climbed back down when she starts to put lights all over both trees. I think these will be pretty at night. I may not want to climb in the tree with those lights. Next, she puts shiny colored balls hanging from the upper branches. On the lower branches she puts different kinds of colored balls. I knock one off the tree just after she puts it on. I want to get a closer look. Mom laughs, picks up the ball, and hangs it back on the tree. I think we have started a game that I will enjoy.

Over the next two weeks, Mom sits in the living room with only the lights from the trees. She is listening to music. I like to curl up in her lap. If this is Christmas, I think it is very peaceful. I’m sad when she puts all of the things back in the boxes, and even the trees are placed in the bags. Fred says I’ll have to wait a whole year for Christmas to come again. I think it will be worth the wait.