Never Had a Tree, So What?

     I have never had a Christmas tree. My family had a tree when I was younger and we would put our presents under the tree before passing them out to each other and unwrapping them. I do not have a strong sense of Christmas tradition. Ever since I was old enough to do so I gave my dad a list of what I wanted and that's what he would buy. There was no surprise. Then, when I was out of college and on my own Christmas changed even more when it became requisite that I would work on the holiday. News does not stop for baby Jesus, Hanukkah, or any other holiday. I would celebrate Christmas with my family when ever I could rather than on a specific date. It has gotten to be that Christmas is just another day. I am not going home for the holiday this year because I do not feel like making the drive again, so soon after Thanksgiving, and if I did go home my time there would no doubt fall quite short of my expectations. I always want to do traditional activities and spend time with loved ones, but it is my family that is more resistant. They can't be bothered with doing all of that. It is too much work.

     So, in my adult life I have never owned a Christmas tree. Why bother? Generally, I will be the only one to see it, aside from a careful few others. It seems to me that buying a tree and all of the decorations would be a waste of money. Then, once the holiday is over where am I supposed to put the stuff? I do not have a great amount of storage. When people ask me about my tree or my festive adornments and I tell them I do not decorate they give me a sorrowful look that shows they pity me. Then they say things like, "there's still time" or "it doesn't matter if no one else will see it." These sorts of comments make me shake my head because it is not as though I am depressed about not decking the halls. I just do not tie much significance to celebrating Christmas. I hold reverence for other holidays.