Creating Memories

Yesterday Mike, Katie and I went in search of a Christmas tree. We had a tradition going, up until a few years ago. We would get a permit from the Forestry office and drive up to the Skokomish wilderness and cut down a "just right" tree. Not all of those trees were perfect. Some were Charlie Brown trees and I think we loved them the most. So...this year we decided to get back into that tradition. It was very cold in the 30's, and we had a late start, noon. The nice thing was that Mike and I agreed it didn't matter if we got a permit or a tree. It was the adventure. So we drove to the Forestry office, it was closed. But we saw an announcement that the CCC had built a couple of rustic cabins up in the hills and there were a couple of hiking trails close by. We thought that would be fun to do this summer. So off to the next Rangers office which is 45 miles or so up Puget Sound. We arrive in Hood Canal and there had been a landslide across the road so we could go no further. The Rangers office was closed also. It's all good. We stopped in at a really neat antique-ish coffee place and had coffee and hot chocolate and checked out all of the cool collections. Then off we went back towards home.

We decided to stop at the first Christmas Tree farm and just get a tree there. We ended up driving 5 miles on a gravel road up and over this hillside that brought us to a tree farm that had to be 25 acres and more.

It was so beautiful! Katie had been lost in her book the trip and was not much for communicating. As soon as we got out to pick the tree Katie was 6 years old again. Giggly, running around saying" this one, no this one" and singing. At that point it didn't matter which tree, it was so much fun to watch her. We finally settled on the "perfect tree" and headed home. It was a beautiful day.

The moral of this story is that with an open heart you can find gifts along your way. I am glad things were not perfectly planned. I don't believe the joy would have been as genuine. I will always remember this day.The sad thing is I won't remember in a couple of years what year it happened. That is just how it is with me. But, Katie will.