It started out like any other holiday season.  The year was 1962.  Some snow had already begun to blanket the ground.  This year my mother said I have a very special tree.  Paul and I looked at mom with wide eyed amazement.  A special tree.  It must be a real tree Paul I said.  Oh goody.  We never had a real tree before.  Mom started to drag in a long cardboard box.  No Linda I don't think it's real.  It still could be, maybe they package them that way.  Well my brother was right out came this tall white skinny tree. It was 7 ft tall.  Thin tiny branches and only about 2 ft wide.  That's the ugliest tree I have ever seen I shouted. Are you trying to ruin Christmas?  Just get the garland and ornaments you'll see mom said.  As we stared to put on the trimmings the tree toppled over.  Dimo please come and help.  My dad had to figure a way for the tree not to fall over.  So dad got a nail, hammer and twine he had to hammer into the wood windowsills and there it was our beautiful 1962 Christmas tree.  It was placed in the front window for all the world to see.  My friends would tease me about the ugliest Christmas tree on Howe Ave., but my mom only saw the beauty in it.  

Well every year this went on.  Probably for 10 years or more. One day Dad came home with a real live Christmas tree.   The smell was wonderful and you did not have to nail it to the sill.  Mom was so disappointed but didn't show it.  We all just stared to trim the tree.  Every year the tall,skinny tree became the biggest joke at Christmas.  Years later my mom told me how much it hurt her because she loved her white tree.  She never said a word.  Mom today I would give the whitest, skinniest Christmas tree in the world just to see that smile you had on your face back in the good old days of 1962.