This year will be the first year we celebrate Christmas without a tree. When our son was young, we always had a live tree, one that we had either bought or cut down. For me, there is nothing quite like the pungent scent of a freshly cut Christmas tree. After our son moved away, however, I finally acquiesced to my husband’s wishes to purchase a “fake” tree, much smaller in stature than those of seasons past.
During the years with our “fake” tree we had some very special friends with us. There was Coco, a black toy poodle who loved Christmas. He believed that any gifts under the tree whether dog toys, treats or people food were his and promptly opened them. After Coco, our loneliness prompted us to adopt Mickey, Charlie, and Annie: white and red toy poodles respectively, and an orange and white kitty. Having learned our lesson with Coco, we didn’t fill their stockings until Christmas morning.
We did have one interesting surprise that Christmas with Annie. Before we adopted her, Annie must have been an outdoor kitty because she was constantly trying to escape. So, for Annie, on that first Christmas, her favorite present turned out to be the Christmas tree itself. As we left to get the decorations, Annie commandeered our little tree. Coming back into the room, my husband and I noticed bent branches on the tree and then the funniest sight. Our plump little Annie was precariously clinging to a very unsteady branch. Even though it was a “fake” tree and the branches didn’t really support her, Annie was happy, she had climbed a tree. Thankfully, once we had the tree trimmed, Annie gave up her tree-climbing activities. So, for the next 14 years, we were able to enjoy our little tree.
After the last of our wonderful friends had gone, my husband and I decided to think seriously before opening our hearts to another animal. The loss of a beloved pet is so painful. For two years we made it without adopting another pet. I’m sure it could have gone even longer if fate hadn’t intervened.
Our son called us one day to announce that his two kitties each had produced a litter of kittens. They now had five adorable fur balls who needed homes. Of course, the minute we saw them we were lost. We chose one from each litter. Sammy, a black short hair, the runt of one litter, had to be bottle fed until he was 8 weeks old. Jasper is a much larger long hair tabby who loves to talk to himself and has a huge fluffy tail. Each one is special to us. Their personalities are completely different, yet they get along beautifully. To say they are spoiled is an understatement. My husband and I are completely under their paws.
Our home has become a great big kitty playpen. The floors are littered with cat toys, boxes, paper bags, and balls made of tinfoil. There is nothing in the house that they don’t consider to be a toy including me and my husband. Little by little we had to get rid of our plants. Any kind of green living thing (even something dried) is either a snack or a toy. Favorite knickknacks have to be put away and anything with a trailing end like a belt, tie or necklace must be protected. Our life has changed drastically.
Along with all the other changes in our home, we now have to face the fact that trying to have a Christmas tree would be sheer folly. Just the tree itself would present these felines with hours and hours of pleasure. If, by some miracle, we could save the tree, strings of lights (blinking at that) would be doomed. As for ornaments, let the games begin! Those lightening quick paws would be into them in seconds. And I shudder to think what they would do with tinsel.
So, for the first time in our marriage, we will have a Christmas without a tree. Will we miss our tree? Yes, we certainly will, but we have both decided that the pleasure derived from two fresh little kitties named Sammy and Jasper will more than make up for our perceived deprivation. This Christmas our presents will include cold noses, warm bodies, furtive attacks and laughter generated by two furry clowns…so much better than a “fake” Christmas tree.
