A Christmas (Tree) Story
I wanted the right tree. Not a huge tree, not the most expensive tree, just the right tree. So the four of us (dh and I and the kids) set out on a cold night just after Thanksgiving to find it. And find it we did. When I saw the eight-foot tall, balsam fir at the local tree lot, I knew I was in love. It was nice and fat, no obvious gaps in the branches, and a lovely pear shape. So we placed it in the truck, brought it home, and set it up in front of the living room window. I wasn't sure this was the best place for it, because our dogs like to lay in front of this big window and survey the neighborhood during the day. But my husband insisted, "people need to be able to see it from the street!", so I agreed. We left about a foot or so of space behind the tree, so the dogs could get behind it if they wanted to look out the window. But I thought we'd just try to coax them to another window anyway. Haha. Silly me.
We decorated the tree with ribbon garland, lots of white silk poinsettias, and some glass ornaments. It was lovely. Then, our Christmas tragedy began to unfold. I came home one day to find the garland (about half of it--the part on the bottom half of the tree) on the floor. Several glass ornaments lay broken on the floor, and three dogs look very, very guilty. I decided that I must catch them in the act, since I do believe in the whole "innocent until proven guilty" thing. But deep inside, I knew they were behind the mess. I could see it in their eyes.
The next day, I tried to stay out of the room a lot, but I kept a watchful eye from the room next to it. I set up shop on the dining room, pretending to pay some bills and do some work. I think all three dogs were fooled. I peeked in a few times, and saw Lucky, our lab, running behind the tree and plopping herself down in front of the window. She didn't seem to care that she was knocking into the tree at all. Then I found Yogi, my little Corgi, trying to pick off the garland with her teeth. Then at one point, she seemed to almost be trying to climb onto a low branch. I caught her red-handed. Or pawed. Or whatever.
Then came the most incriminating evidence of all. Not once, not twice, but THREE times, I found Dylan, my great, big Golden Retriever running around the tree, apparently using the branches of the trees to scratch his body. I should have known, because he often drags his body up and down the fence, to scratch what appears to be some very needy itches. So as he ran around the tree, the whole thing was just shaking, and ornaments were flying.
I could have yelled at them, but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I made my husband pull the tree over to the corner of the room, away from the window, in a position that made it impossible for the dogs to get behind or run around. No one can see it from the street. but at least I still have a few glass ornaments left. And I guess, after all, it's their Christmas too. And my dogs were really just trying to have a little fun.
Comments
A great story!
This is my second Christmas with pets. Last year, my pug mix pulled all of the ornaments off the bottom of my tree. This year I also have a cocker spaniel that I rescued and has been a horse-sized pill in the training department. They both have been well behaved when it comes to the tree and surrounding gifts. The only time they have gone near the tree was on the first day I put it up. They tried to drink the water before I put the skirt on it.
However, the roll of tape and wrapping paper that I turned my head away from for a few minutes did suffer a horrible demise.
Have a great holiday!
Posted by: Bonnie | December 23, 2006 09:05 PM
Oh, that is too funny! I know what you mean about Goldens and their itches. Mine rubs his back against our couch and pushes the couch several feet across the room. It's not a lightweight couch, either!
Posted by: anne | January 19, 2007 12:03 PM