PLASTIC

Years ago, in the movie "the Graduate" Dustin Hoffman was given the advice that the future was in "Plastic." Shortly after that we purchased a plastic Christmas tree and decorated it with all manner of ornaments. Over the years, we have added to this tree. When the kids were little they made paper mache' cookies, and popsicle stars, and strung elbow macaroni on fishing line. We still have these. Of course there are a few $30 dollar "designer" cut glass ornaments too but they get lost among the more sentimental ones.

Every year, right after Thanksgiving I begin to curse and swear that I am going to have to unpack the *#%$$!! storage closet under our stairs to get way into the back so I can drag out our pre-decorated plastic tree. Then one morning I just bite the bullet and schlep all the Chazzerai (my homage to Channukah) out of the closet and retrieve the tree. I put the shelves and water and paper products back only to do it all again in early January when the tree goes back into hibernation. Tradition!

About an hour after I put up the tree and the Kitty put the finishing touches on it, our grandchildren arrived at our house for a short visit. One of them said "They have a Christmas tree in this house." as if we were Taliban and wouldn't have erected one for the holidays. I fully expect that next year when they arrive they will say "They have the same Christmas tree they had last year." These kids are smart. Even hanging an automobile pine air freshener as one of the ornaments won't fool them. We may just have to go "real" for 2011. Nah, plastic is the future.