There was actual frost outside here, still, at mid-morning even. Emma wanted to know if it would snow soon. This is my least favorite time of year. Everything is dead, the leaves are long gone, nothing green is left. The bare branches are grasping in vain at the cold grey sky. It’s quite depressing.
But I have seen truck after truck go by with greenery in the back. The wreath-making has begun here, so Christmas is not far behind. It looks like trees in the back of those trucks, but it’s how they stack the evergreen tips on a large stick.
I learned how to make those wreaths, once. It is not easy, certainly not as easy as it looks. Take tips from evergreen branches, wire them to a heavier wire frame. It’s more like – march out into the cold dead forest, hack at some trees for the tips of new growth, unstick your vehicle from the frozen mud. Go back to the warmth of the barn or shed with the wood stove in the corner. Scratch your hands to pieces on the tips and wire, get out those gloves because otherwise you’ll rip your hands to shreds. Pull and wrap, pull and wrap. Nope, tighter. Nope, thicker. Unwrap and do it again. Your hands hurt, your arms ache, your calves are starting to go numb from standing all day. There’s sap in your hair, smoke in your eyes, and the smell of fresh cut spruce. All for minimum wage. Maybe more, if you work for one of the good guys.
Yeah, that was quite the afternoon I spent, years ago. And around here, probably before the end of the month, every bare patch of ground by the side of the road with have a truck parked on it, some guy inside wearing his winter coveralls, periodically running his vehicle to ward off the cold, peddling these handmade real greenery wreaths for $10 each. Maybe $20, for the bigger ones with a few decorations.
They sure did earn it.
Not this year though, we only had ice cream cake.
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