Hey there I'm Robert MacEwan the author of Ideal Absolutes. If you're new to macewan.org, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed.
Darn close to 7 hours of studies - time for a mental break. Val bought an incredible 7.5 foot tree. It glows in our living room like the sparkle in my grandson’s eyes. Seriously… I’ve become quite the romantic this year. Kind of odd but I’m enjoying being sentimental.
As she puts yet another dozen ornaments on the tree, Val turns and tell me someone must say, “You know, I think this is the prettiest tree yet. ” It’s a tradition, a Heinold tradition from my Dad. Each year is better than the last. Sure enough, Ruth came into the room a few minutes later. Looked at the tree, told Val it was just lovely. Then, “You know, this is the prettiest tree I’ve ever seen.”
I looked over at Val who smiled. We both said, “Yes, this year it is the best.”
The funniest and best part of our holiday decor is the 3 foot high giant plastic lighted Santa Claus. It’s not 3-D, it’s a wall ornament. It’s tacky… wonderful… manufactured just as plastic began hitting its stride in the early 19690s. Val’s been lugging it around since 1972 but it’s been in her family since 1963. Her Dad put one of these atrocious Santas on each side of their chimney one year. Two of them, back to back so it would be a whole Santa. It was his joke. She remembers him telling her, “Your sister will be here in a few days. She’s getting a ride home from Fayetteville — apparently with the Tri-Delt president or somesuch sorority business. High class… big honor to ride with such a person or some other bit of canal water. I thought I’d decorate with style just for her. Show that Tri Delta bunch we’re high class too.” Val says he must have laughed for a good five minutes after he said that. Then he put a sign on the front window which said, “We bought symphony orchestra cookies.”
That’s Val’s Christmas story for today. Every evening, she and Ruth tell each other a funny good Christmas holiday story. I’ll give you one of Ruth’s soon. She’s got some great ones from the 1920s.
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It’s me, the other mac — don’t forget to tell everyone how you stopped your monetary visionquest at 9:00 p.m. the last 2 nights — for The Tin Man. The conclusion starts in about half an hour — see you in the living room, eh? You know you can’t miss it… I’ll get the popcorn ready.
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