(photo of Chelsea and Sacha when they were younger.)
When I arrived in France many moons ago, Christmas trees were not part of Christmas. The Christmas consumer market had not taken off. The French florists usually had a few dried up pine trees for sale, reminding me of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree, the kind that my Father, brothers and I would buy and take home because we felt sorry for it, thinking it had feelngs and we didn't want it to be alone for Christmas. My Mother did not feel the same way, as she would shake her finger at us.
Given this bit of history I want you to imagine a young woman, nine months pregnant, determined to have a Christmas tree, for her soon-to-be-Franco-American baby….
Imagine her buying a Charlie Brown tree, then dragging it behind her as she walked the streets of Paris back to her apartment. Then hauling it up the three flights of stairs where she placed the tree upright. One side had bare branches. The other side had needles dangling. The scattered scent of pine, was replaced by sweat and a funny feeling.
I had a Christmas tree just in time for the first ornament, that came bright and beautiful!
Joyous Christmas Eve!
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