Fillyjonk's progress: On the tree

I know some families don't decorate the tree until the 24th - that's how my brother's family (Anglican) does it, that's how my dad's family apparently did it when he was a kid.

When I was growing up, we usually decorated (as I remember) in the week before Christmas, but before the 24th. It seemed like a long time before but I suspect it wasn't really any before the 20th or the 21st, and I'm just misremembering because time moves more slowly when you're a kid.

There have been a few years in my adulthood when I was at my parents', but the tree didn't go up until the 24th, but that was often because people were busy or someone was sick.

I have my own tree. I started out with a v. small one - about 3 1/2 feet tall, back when I lived in the apartment. Back around 2016 or 17, I decided to buy a full sized one - the little old tree that I'd been using since 1999 was starting to shed, and I didn't like how tiny it was. So I bought a 7' tree that comes in three sections. (Yes, I have an artificial tree. I have allergies, and I also like to put it up early - and around here, the most common "tree" for sale is red-cedar, which is one of my worst allergens).

I usually put it up the week before Thanksgiving, which I know is early, but I travel over Thanksgiving, and I like having it up to look at. I usually take it down on or before Epiphany.

I also have a lot of the same ornaments from year to year. Growing up, I knew people who *threw out* all the ornaments and *bought new* every year - and now I know of people who just rent the stuff. But I can't do that. I like seeing the same ornaments year in and year out - that's how we did it when I was a kid, the same old ornaments coming out every year like old friends.

And I have my own "old friends" now.

Here are some of the things that were on my tree this year

A Polish-made (but Scandinavian style) glass ball

Probably-1980s, probably from a Bucilla kit - bought off of Etsy

Seashell My Little Pony and a sequined shape (the latter bought this year)

One of the icicles I use (we never used tinsel at home, not after my mom caught the cat trying to eat it) and an ornament based on "Are You My Mother," a favorite book when I was very young