there's a tree in my house

for the first time ever, i have my own christmas tree. i spent 3 hours shining up the 26 silver bells that my grandbear (aka grandfather) gave me annually until his death in 2001. the ritual filled me with a bit of nostalgic remorse...remembering the years that this was done with my mother, while i sometimes complained that there seemed to be so many to shine. this time around, each bell was a reminder of years gone by and those golden memories filled me with warmth. even the animals approve.