I have mentioned this before, but this is one of the days during the year that I remember. A week before Christmas, or "Selling Day," or "Present Opening Day," or, whatever it has degenerated to, how about, "Give a gift to a homeless child Day." Anyway, this was a big day in the Dooley Household every December. "Mom's Birthday, but more importantly, to us, the Day we put the Tree Up.
Looking back, I don't remember the day ever having anything to do with her birthday, it all revolved around putting the tree up. Unfortunately, she did most of the work. Dad and I would go to the Fairgrounds and get the tree. They were sold in the area under the seating, that aroma is vivid to me today, it is associated with the holiday and the season. A wisp of Pine scent congers up all those memories to this day.
The lights went on first, Dad would sit in his recliner and suggest "locations" for the lights, "Too many there, a hole there." Then, garlands, and then the decorations, those priceless treasures, carefully put away from Last year, hopefully none would be broken during their year of hibernation. "Hooks, do we have enough hooks?" Always a problem, but Mom would resolve the issue, she would have a box or two hidden, somewhere.
No one could do the "ice cycles" right. Dad had no patience to do it, I just "clumped" them, Mom would do, "one at a time," carefully place on the outer edges of a limb. She would "unclump" mine.
Then, the "Fairyland" under the tree. First the cotton, then the fence that Dad had made many years before, a lot of it, hand done, the front had a gate, on the side, a larger gate for the animals, little mirrors for icy ponds, skaters, animals, a prominent Church with a steeple, with a light inside, the little houses, some on her snow mountain, and at each "fencepost" a glass figure, a doctor, a football player, a soldier, all treasures, and used every year, and the "finale" to the tree trimming ceremony.
My Mom was tired from the day, she did most of the "loving work" a labor of love, so to speak, but looking back, no mention of her birthday, I don't recall her ever complaining about it, it was too special a day ...... "putting up the tree" ...
