By Neal Wooten
We often say if we knew it was going to be the last time we did something, we would have cherished it more. The problem is, hardly ever do we know when the last time will be. Our lives change in the blink of an eye, and we don’t have time to take stock of bygone traditions.
I don’t remember the last time we cut our own Christmas tree. Somewhere in my teens, we changed to an artificial tree. Earlier fake trees were not as lifelike and pretty as the ones now. But I still remember throwing the axe over my scrawny shoulder and following Dad into the woods in search of a small pine tree with only one bald spot. I remember dragging it back and using that tree stand with the three bolts to hold it upright. And I remember everyone chipping in to decorate it.
I can’t remember the last time I took a .22 repeater, trekked all around our property, and shot mistletoe out of the trees. I can’t remember the last time we popped popcorn, took a needle and thread, and made popcorn strings to put around the tree. I can’t remember the last time our oldest sister woke us all at 5:00 on Christmas morning as we rushed into the living room to see what Santa had left us.
I can’t remember the last time all of us: Dad, Mom, all my siblings, and I piled into the car to drive around and look at Christmas lights. From the houses that just had electric candles in the windows to houses that were all decked out, I loved them all. I remember Dad always pulling off the road in front of Hoyt Newsome’s house in Sylvania because it was the crème de la crème, the reflection in the large pond making it doubly spectacular.
I can’t remember the last time we watched the Blue/Gray football game on Christmas day. I don’t remember the last time we played football after we ate Christmas dinner. I don’t remember the last time the adults drew names at Thanksgiving to know who to buy a Christmas gift for. I don’t even remember the last time we all got together for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
As the saying goes – time flies. As we get older, however, we discover that it also begins to accelerate. All these events now seem like they were a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. While I didn’t know to savor the last time, the memories will never fade. And the excitement of cutting our own tree, decorating it, and getting up before the sun on Christmas morning has never been matched.
