O Christmas Tree!

By Janice Lane Palko

When we come to this time of the year, it always seems appropriate to take stock of what happened over the past 12 months. One way I do that is while decorating my Christmas tree.

I didn’t intend it to happen this way, but my Christmas tree has evolved over the past nearly five decades as a sort of visual autobiography of my life. It started with a ceramic poinsettia ornament I painted as a sophomore in 1976 in art class. Back then, most people just had glass balls on their trees. It was only in 1973 that Hallmark started their ornament line with six glass balls and 12 yarn figures, but my collection of ornaments grew like Hallmark’s line. I put that ornament on my family’s tree and the next year, I added a felt snowman that served as a gift tag from a classmate in a grab bag that Christmas. It’s no wonder she grew up to be a renowned costume designer. This ornament showcased her exquisite workmanship. 

When I got married in 1982, I transferred those ornaments to our first tree, which we cut down in Butler. The other young couple we shared a duplex with told us that they always saw off a piece of the tree’s trunk and then glued their Christmas picture on it. I took their suggestion and made one of us as newlyweds and decoupaged it on the piece of truck. I love looking back at the photo when I was much thinner and had an 80s style permanent and my husband has a mustache and aviator glasses. That ornament joined others we had received as shower gifts and wedding presents. After my grandmother died, I added a glass, hand-blown ball that was on her tree and one from my mother’s-in-law’s tree that she had growing up on the farm as a kid. 

Over the years when we traveled anywhere, I picked up an ornament. This year I will add ornaments from Greece, Malta, and Sicily. 

When I had kids, I began taking a picture of each of them every year and putting it in an ornament frame and hanging it on the tree. I’ve now started including a framed photo each year of each of my four grandchildren. I also have photos ornaments of my dog, and my daughter’s past pets. On my tree I also have many ornaments that were given to me by co-workers, friends, and from members of clubs I used to belong to. 

I have handmade ornaments from my kids, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews, as well as kids I taught decades ago in religion class. I have a hand-carved and painted Santa my brother Tim made me. I have so many ornaments, I now put up three small trees, and I could use another tree if I wanted to hang all the other ornaments I still have stashed in my attic. 

After I’m gone, most of these treasures will probably be sent to Goodwill, but I don’t care. Each year when I take them out, they remind me of the special people I’ve known, the magnificent places I’ve been, the milestones achieved in my life, and the many blessings I’ve received over the years.

This Christmas, if you look back over the year and your life, I hope you feel as blessed. Merry Christmas!