o tannenbaum

Today, my dad and I bought my first Christmas tree. It's a seven-foot Aleppo Pine (pinus halepensis). The environmentalist in me couldn't stomach a cut tree, so my live tree is in its pot, waiting to be planted in 2006. My father even insisted on paying for it, and after putting forth the requisite protest, I let him buy my tree.

We got it home and decorated it with white lights and the silver and gold ornaments that I've been collecting for a few years now. It also includes ornaments that were gifts from friends and souvenirs gathered on trips to faraway lands.

I know that it's ridiculously early to have a tree up — but I'll be away at Christmas and want to enjoy it for several weeks. Today was also pretty much my last day of freedom before I become 'crazy grad student with one financial accounting group project, one very scary economics paper to research and write, and two wicked-hard exams, all within the next 23 days-girl.' Oh, and did I mention that it's my first tree since I was a kid?

I'm mesmerized by how beautiful it is — it's a good reminder that the simple things are often the ones that bring me the greatest joy.

Thanks, popi. I've had a big smile on my face all day, and I suspect that it won't go away anytime soon.