The procrastinator’s tree

     A conversation I overheard this evening while I had the dogs outside made me wonder how many other Christmas tree procrastinators are out there.

     The smallest of three children asked, “We’re getting our tree tomorrow aren’t we Dad?”

     “The wind chill is going to drop the temperature to zero degrees tomorrow and there’ll be wind gusts of forty miles per hour.  I’m not taking you kids out in that for a tree.”  The father tugged on his dog’s leash and dragged it away from a telephone pole.

     His wife shrugged.  “We can better put it off for another day it’s supposed to be nicer on Tuesday.”

     “But, you promised we’d go TOMORROW.  All my friends have their trees up already.”  The eldest of the three children whined and kicked at a chunk of ice.

     “Oh, yeah sure.  We’re going to go hunting for a tree in that kind of weather.  No way.  The tree can wait another day.  I don’t intend to be found frozen to some pine tree, ax in hand, at the tree farm.”

     The middle child said, “But MOOOOM, tell him Christmas Eve is Wednesday.” 

     The mother said, “Why don’t we go buy a fake tree tomorrow?  Then you won’t need to go chop down a tree and the kids will happy.”

     The man wrapped his arm around her shoulders.  “But it’s a tradition.  I’ve done it since I was a kid.  I want them to have the same traditions.”