What types of ornaments do you put on your tree? Elegant glass globes of red and gold? Balls in all the holiday colors? Maybe you have inherited your family’s heirlooms, passed down from generation to generation. Perhaps there is a theme: the Peanuts gang, beautifully feathered birds or only handmade creations.
Our tree is decorated with ornaments we have collected in our almost 30 years together, with a few we brought into the relationship from our childhoods and life before we met. All our favorite things can be found on the branches of our tannenbaum: the sports team we live and die by, the cockatiel who let us be his parents for 15 years, TV shows we have loved, commemorations of our first Christmas together as a couple then as husband and wife, Old Glory, the beach and our hobbies. But the majority of hanging baubles depict places we’ve visited, always making a point to choose trim for the tree wherever we go. I remember purchasing each and every one, from the round disc with a photo of the red rocks in Sedona, the clear glass ball filled with sand from Aruba to the miniature coffee mug we picked up at the original Starbucks in Seattle.
As I came through the dining room and looked at the undecked tree after it was set up in its upright and locked position, waiting for lights and ornamentation, I realized that that bare tree is a lot like my life these last half a dozen years. I am not saying my existence has been empty; I have amazing friends, a true partner in my husband and purpose and plans for the future. But since my vision loss six years ago, we have stayed home, as I healed in every way and we adjusted to a new financial situation. A huge part of who I am was not filled in, leaving holes in my personal adornment.
It is time, though, to explore what exploring the world with minimal sight will be like. Last November, I took my first trip since my world went dark and staticy to Germany and this year adventured on several road trips within a few hours of home. Finally, there are recent memories logged in miles inside me that will be displayed on the outside of my tree. As I unwrapped these latest additions to our collection, I felt more like myself than I have in a long time. It hasn’t sat well in any of my limbs that there have been no new hookable mementos for quite some time.
The amount of ornaments we have is not directly proportionate to our 5’ tree. But like the souvenir nicks on my suitcase, there is always room for one more. That’s the magic of Christmas and the wonder of travel for me.
