Never misjudge the size of a Christmas tree

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Christmas is just right around the corner. It is tradition, as well as many others that we put up our Christmas tree and decorate it the weekend of Thanksgiving.

For many years my Dad and I would get in the work van and travel up to Shell’s Christmas Tree Farm, owned by Greg and Weeta Shell, on top of Underwood Mountain in Tuscumbia. My Dad often called in before Thanksgiving to ensure they had some tall, 10-12 ft. trees because he always wanted the tree in the family room in front of `the big window,’ overlooking Wilson Lake. Greg always assured him they had many tall trees but one year we waited almost too late to get a tree.

It was so busy the first of the month, and we could not get the tree until after Thanksgiving. We were finally able to get it about two weeks before Christmas. It was a memory that I will never forget.

I recall it was a very busy day when we finally were able to go to the Christmas tree farm, and I was doubtful that we would make it before sundown. In fact when we arrived it had just gotten dark but luckily the Shell were still there. However, since it was dark we couldn’t go far to look for a tree. Walking close by the barn, we came to the back, and there were two huge cedar trees on the hillside. Dad thought one of those would work. Dad and Greg discussed whether or not the tree was too big while we were standing beside the behemoth. Mr. Shell said we waited so late picking out a tree that all the 12 foot trees were sold. Dad came to the conclusion that we would choose one of the two biggest trees left, and if it was too big, we would just cut from the bottom and make it shorter.

We purchased the tree and Greg and his two sons cut it down. Then they brought it to the barn area where they wrapped the tree for easy loading and carrying the tree. They measured the tree and decided about two more feet needed to come off the bottom. It was a very tall and very fat tree, but they managed to get it into the van.

The humongous tree stuck out of the back of van window on the way down the mountain. It was flapping around like a huge tail attached to the van. On the way home my Dad and I were both worried about whether or not it would fit in the house, but we kept our fingers crossed. Once we finally made it home, I asked my two brothers to help us unload the tree and put it in front of the living room window facing the river. We got it through the door and put up with the wrapping still on, but it was so big and heavy that we had to tie it to a wooden beam in the vaulted ceiling. On the count of three we cut open the wrapping, and all the limbs beautifully unwrapped. But, to our demise, the limbs came down fast and landed with a swoosh and bang! The limbs were pressed tightly against the window. The entire tree almost completely filled the living room! It felt as if we were in a scene from the famous movie “Christmas Vacation.” Thank goodness it didn’t break the glass out of the windows. It was a scary moment at the time but in retrospect I can’t help but laugh. It looked like the tree had grown into the house. It was a hassle, but by far one of the prettiest trees once it was decorated.

One thing I learned that day was never to wait until two weeks before Christmas to buy a tree at a tree farm and never, ever underestimate the size of a tree.