The Fate of a Holiday Tree

We finally did it.  We got rid of our Christmas tree.  We make an effort every year with our holiday tree to either get a live tree we can plant, or if it's a cut tree, do something special with it after it's bathed in it's decorated glory. This year we dropped our, and a neighbors tree off to the NC Museum of Life and Science so that it could continue being enjoyed by their resident red wolves.  We've donated our cut tree to the museum before but i think it was pre-red wolves.  Maybe the bears got it last time?

This year seemed to have a little less pomp and fanfare for our giving-of-thanks to the tree.  In previous years we've tried to make a bit of a to-do of things when we retied it.  We'd make an event out of digging the hole to plant the live trees, or go as a whole family to take the tree to the museum, and we've also had a number of bonfire gatherings to welcome in the new year with friends and family (and whoa! let me tell ya, Frasier firs or white pine can be exciting ways to start a bonfire).  However, this year our undecorated tree was placed out in the front yard and waited there for about 3.5 weeks before my daughter and i unceremoniously shoved it into the back of our van with our neighbors tree.  We drove it over to the museum where we dumped it outside of an access fence to be taken away at a later time.  ...I had a moment of sadness thinking about how we didn't create a special, joyous moment with our children or friends, and then my daughter, who had been uncharacteristically quiet through all our endeavors, stepped up to the trees and said "i love our christmas tree."  and then turning to me asked, "now the wolves will love our christmas tree?"  ...little tear ...special moment achieved :)   ...and quick photo op.   Thanks Zella!