#thisdaysjoy: finishing a hard thing

November 20, 2023

Okay, it may not be “hard” like threading a needle in the dark hard.

But getting the Christmas tree up and its lights on is easily the least fun job of the season.

After an emotionally scarring experience with a pre-lit tree and half a tree’s worth of lights that went out and never came back on.

Ghrrr!

I vowed “never again!” and each year I do it by hand — and as of right now, it’s done!

🥳

• 11 strands of lights

• 4 burned out bulbs replaced

• 3 hours listening to Beegie Adair, Ramsey Lewis, Oscar Peterson, and Jackie Gleason Christmas jazz 🎶

• 2 tangles that easily shook out

• 1 well-lit tree 🎄

• 0 swear words — a Christmas miracle right there!!!

Best,