'Twas the day after Thanksgiving

Happy Holidays. I hope your Thanksgiving was as warm and wonderful as our. Today is Black Friday and Buy Nothing day. After noting that we haven't a spotless record for buy absolutely nothing day, I was informed that we are a counter-counter-culture family. We won't be mindless drones for either progressive or conservative causes. We're independent thinkers. So today we've helped support a very cool independent bookstore and coffee shop in Cambridge MN, a family owned Christmas tree farm in Isanti county, a local grocery store and bakery in Wyoming Mn, and a big box that didn't open early (on Thanksgiving) for Black Friday. Most of our time and money were spent locally on family Christmas decorations and presents. I think this comes under the heading of not letting the perfect be the enemy of the good. At the moment, the tree we bought this morning is up with only the lights and angel. The rest of the decorations come tomorrow and / or Sunday. Then it will look very much like this one. Each year there's a spirited discussion about which tree is the "right" size and shape. e.e. cummings somehow foresaw Charlie Brown's tree.

© harrington

[little tree]

By E. E. Cummings 

little tree

little silent Christmas tree

you are so little

you are more like a flower

who found you in the green forest

and were you very sorry to come away?

see          i will comfort you

because you smell so sweetly

i will kiss your cool bark

and hug you safe and tight

just as your mother would,

only don't be afraid

look          the spangles

that sleep all the year in a dark box

dreaming of being taken out and allowed to shine,

the balls the chains red and gold the fluffy threads,

put up your little arms

and i'll give them all to you to hold

every finger shall have its ring

and there won't be a single place dark or unhappy

then when you're quite dressed

you'll stand in the window for everyone to see

and how they'll stare!

oh but you'll be very proud

and my little sister and i will take hands

and looking up at our beautiful tree

we'll dance and sing

"Noel Noel" 

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Thanks for stopping by during the holidays. Come again when you can. Rants, raves and reflections served here daily.