just one more day

Traditionally I take down the ole' tree on New Year's Day, to the blaring background of the football games. It's a bittersweet time, revisiting each precious ornament and putting the decorations to sleep for another year. I also take the time to cull things that are broken, too ugly or useless, or whose origin I have long forgotten. There are always plenty of replacements within this year's gifts.

It's interesting to me to notice how long other people enjoy their trees. I once picked up my daughter at a friend's house one cold February day, and was surprised to see her fully decorated tree still erect, brittle and dark, in the family room. There were ornament boxes piled up all around it, so maybe she was just taking her time...

Another time I was invited to swim at my friend's sister's house during a particularly hot July day. I ran in for a towel and, being nosy, poked around to the back of the house just to check it out. Yikes!! There it was...holding up well since it was artificial, but it looked kind of ghostly. I guess it was just too pretty to disassemble.

How long do you leave your tree up?