Oh, TINnenbaum

Well, not really tin. I know they're aluminum, even though, when I was a kid, we said "tin cans" and "tin foil," and they were mainly steel and aluminum, respectively. Anyway, I couldn't think of a carol that worked with the word aluminum...but I digress.

To get to the point of this post, I have to report that my hopes of a totally authentic mid-century Christmas were dashed the other day, at least temporarily. I have been on the lookout for an affordable aluminum tree for the past two or three years (and most of you know that "affordable" and "aluminum tree" are very often mutually exclusive terms). Most of the ones I see on eBay that I really like are in the $250-500 range.

Then, out of the blue, my daughter and SIL found one for themselves on Craigslist this week...for $80!!! I rode with my daughter to a small town about 50 miles west of here to pick it up, only slightly green with envy.

After their tree was up (and then down on 1-year-old Grayson's head...with a little help from 2-year-old brother Holden...and then back up again), I went to their house to babysit. As only a worrywart grandmother can do, I began to fret about every single shred of aluminum that fell off the tree, picking up every tiny piece that had the perceived potential for choking my grandsons. (And they do shed. I had forgotten that.)

I was so paranoid about the choking thing that I couldn't even enjoy the tree, so I've decided I'm going to have to wait a few more years...like until they're 21 and 22...before I buy an aluminum tree. By then they'll probably cost $1000. <sigh>

Relegated to my 2031 To Do List
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