Christmas Eve and Christmas are two of my most favorite days of the year. I cannot promise I am always happy and cheerful on Christmas, but the process of anticipation and preparation fills me with joy for weeks.
Big part of it is decorating the apartment and the tree in particular. I never followed any traditional dates. I only followed the call of my heart. The longer the decorations stayed, the better. My daughter and I would usually decorate around December 1st, depending on which date falls on a Friday. And then we would enjoy weeks and months of lights and warmth.
Taking down the decorations has always been painful to me, so I would often wait till the Chinese New Year, without feeling any guilt about not taking them down earlier. I was preparing emotionally to part with them.
And this family tradition of ours would go on for many many years. Until 2020. The year we adopted a cat. Our handsome, sweet and very naughty Thanasis. Hearing so many "horror" stories about cats and Christmas trees, I decided to wait till Christmas Eve to put up the tree. And not without pain in my heart. But priorities are priorities. And family members are more important than Christmas decorations. I guess...
We put our tree and waited, with our breath held in, to see what its destiny will be on December, 25. Surprisingly enough, we found it standing. No damage at all. Thanasis' interest were the hanging Christmas balls and that seemed to comprise it all. I sighed in relief and gave myself the promise to put the tree on time for next Christmas.
And then I noticed something, I was not even expecting. Thanasis was chewing on the fake tree needles and, obviously, swallowed some of them. As a new fur baby's Mom, I got alarmed, and, you guessed it, started googling. I found contradicting opinions about the dangers of cats chewing fake Christmas trees and decided to take it as soon as possible. We were all home on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and guarded the tree in turns. And after two brilliant days of family time, saying good bye to 2020, and meeting the fresh start of 2021, on January 2, we took the tree down.
Traditions can change. It can be painful. But having a fur baby compensates for anything. It brings so much joy, that even me, for whom Christmas season is sacred, the three months I used to keep my decorations included, could find some flexibility in my patterns and accept change. With a silent sigh though...because well, we talk about Christmas here! But I will keep adjusting. Life is good!
Image Credit: Personal Archive
Model: Thanasis the Cat
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Life moments