Monday, December 15, 2008

the best ornament


my happy christmas tree

I spent Sunday afternoon decorating Christmas trees....my own and helping my mother with hers. My mom, sister and I always decorate her tree together....playing old Christmas albums (yes, I mean vinyl) , trying to remember which candle sits on which table and telling the ornament stories. That is my favorite part....the stories...no matter how many times I hear them. My parents have been collecting ornaments from all of their travels over the years...every ornament on that tree has a story. As my brother, sister and I grew up and had our own journeys, we started bringing back something for the tree as well. And the story dearest to my heart is the one of the star.


from a roadtrip to bayfield during
a camping trip when it rained the
whole time

When my parents were sharing their first Christmas as a married couple decades ago, my father cut out the shape of a star from a piece of cardboard, wrapped it in tinfoil, and placed it on the top of the tree. Over 35 years later, that same star is shining from the top of their Christmas tree. When we were young children, we would rotate years so that each of us would get a turn putting it up (with the help of Dad's height and steady hand). It was the last ornament that went on...the best ornament that went on.


from pumpkinfest in port elgin...

I am carrying on my mother's tradition. Bringing back ornaments from trips, building the stories for my tree. A few years back, the first Christmas after I moved out of my parents house, my Dad handed me a present to open. It was light as a feather. And when I opened the box, sitting there nestled in tissue paper was my own handmade tinfoil star. For my own Christmas tree. And it is....the best ornament that goes on.


my star...the heart of my tree

13 comments:

Pam said...

What a wonderful post and a truly special star. I am sure you will cherish it forever.

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Your post so sweet and sentimental. What wonderful Christmas memories you all have.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Wonderful story! I so enjoyed it! Your Dad was so thoughtful..what a way to carry on a memory! :)

pam said...

Oh my gosh, that is so sweet! Your tree is really pretty too!

Jeanne Estridge said...

We always had an angel -- she was an old composition doll head and torso set onto a toilet paper roll. She had shoulder length silver hair and a silver paper band around her forehead for a halo. She's always looked more like an Indian medicine woman than an angel to me.

Thanks for bringing back that memory!

Anonymous said...

Your star is the BEST! What a sweet memory and keepsake.

SusanD said...

Hey Andrea, I thoroughly enjoyed your story about the ornaments, especially the star. Your tree is lovely. I like the photos of your precious dog, Sophie. From the pictures, she has quite a personality. Thanks for visiting my blog. Blessings, Susan

Flower said...

That's a very sweet story..your star is beautiful! So is your tree!!
I love the pictures of Sophie going on a walk and resting with the colorful sky behind!!
Come as see my Blue playing in the snow this week!!

Tatersmama said...

Oh what a beautiful story! I was getting all sniffly there at the end!
Wonderful memories... and I'm so glad you have family to share them with. :o)

gigi said...

What a wonderful tradition to have and I agree the star on top and all it's fond memories are the best. Merry Christmas.

laurie said...

oh my gosh i used to have a tinfoil star just like that.

i only have one of my parents' ornaments--i'm not sure what happened to the rest. but i treasure that one, and i have plenty of memories for the ornaments that i have acquired myself through the years.

Anonymous said...

I too cherish my tinfoil star that Dad made me :)

Heather,Aiden and Guinness said...

Wishing you and Ian a lifetime of traditions and a wonderful Merry Christmas. My tree is also nothing but ornaments that have meaning. No matching ribbons, bobbles, lights or expensive ornaments. My angel is one that Aiden made in kindergarten that is a picture of him on a toilet paper roll decorated as an angel. I love it because he truly is my angel. Guinness has chewed a few but only to be put back on the tree! He hasn't earned his wings yet...yet!