Editor's Note: This latest submission for the "Senior Class" column is from Lucille LaGesse, Superior.
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The tree has always been special; our family reminisces about it every time Christmas comes around. The year was 1964 and it was the year that we almost didn't have a Christmas tree.
It happened like this: On Dec. 16, I reminded my husband, Bob, that it was time to get our tree. "Plenty of time," said he. I gave him the same reminder on Dec. 17, 18, 19, 20, with the same answer. "Plenty of time."
The morning of Dec. 21 tipped the situation that the time was right ... "I'll get the tree right after breakfast."
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It was high noon when my Mister came home; he stood with his hands in his pockets in the kitchen doorway and I knew by his stature something was wrong. "I've looked everywhere ... at all the tree lots... and there's not a tree in town."
My thought was it's the "no room at the inn" again and my heart literally sank to my knees. I felt so badly for my husband, too, that all I said was "I can live without a tree, but the children will be disappointed." Our family numbered six at the time (we would later number 7) and I stood trying to imagine how it would be without a tree: no pine scent in the house, no bright lights in the corner of the living room, and worst of all, no tree under which to place the children's gifts for opening on Christmas.
We were both still reeling from the reality of the "no tree," problem, when the phone rang. I heard a man's voice say, "Bob, can you use a couple of trees?"
"I think you just saved my life, Greg."
Greg was a friend and co-worker with my husband on the railroad. He had cut two trees that didn't quite meet his wife's expectations and did we want them? Did we! We packed up the children and headed for the country to salvage those trees and, literally, our Christmas.
We chose the tree that was best for our home and lost no time working at decorating it. Enter the second phone call. This time it was Bob's cousin, Mary, and she sounded sort of panicky. "Do you know where I can get a tree?" It was eye-rolling time on my part when Bob informed her "Don't worry, I have an extra one."
That tree from heaven was the loveliest tree we ever had. We have had bigger ones, greener ones, fuller ones, but none has been its equal. It filled our hearts and home that year, and the "extra" tree gave us the chance to turn around and help another who, unfortunately, had also procrastinated a bit.
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The "Senior Class" column is a forum open only to seniors who wish to share remembrances with other seniors and those who care about them, those who can best understand what it all means and how very important it all is. We invite all our other senior readers to submit similar written memories of a graduation, birthday, holiday or other special occasion, recollections of what life was like when they were young, historical items of interest, etc. Send your submission to "The Senior Class," c/o Editorial Department, The Daily Telegram, 1226 Ogden Ave., Superior, Wis., 54880.
