Fake or Real?
Is that really a question? Well, it was one I’ve been asking myself recently.
You see, once upon a Christmas time (hint hint, last year), I found myself standing in the local tree lot, staring at a price tag that made my wallet shiver more than a snowman in a heatwave. The little five-foot wonder before me, though charming, had a price that hinted at a black market for evergreen gold.
Seriously, what happened to the cost of trees? I realize that Ralphie’s Dad once said, “Christmas only comes once a year, why not? Well, I wasn’t in a “Why not?” mood.
And I’m not this year either.
So, with a sigh that could have deflated a balloon Santa, I realized a couple of weeks ago that the days and joys of tree hunting were over.
So, armed with a newfound determination to save money and my sanity, I finally did it. I delved into the world of a fake Christmas tree. After an extensive online quest involving more comparison charts and customer reviews than I ever thought possible, I found the chosen one. A pre-lit, perfectly shaped faux fir that, according to the reviews, was the artificial twin of the majestic pines I once proudly displayed.
As I unpacked the tree from its compact box, assembling it with a mix of glee and nostalgia, I couldn’t ignore the elephant—or should I say, the evergreen-scented void—in the room or how the absence of that fresh pine aroma left me feeling like I had invited Christmas over but forgot to bake cookies. But as the artificial branches reached the ceiling and as I sat by the glow of my fake tree, I couldn’t help but remember that while the scent was gone, the savings were real. The investment cost may have stung initially, but when I divide it by the years ahead, I can’t help but declare it a jolly good decision.
So here’s to a mess-free, cost-effective Christmas, even if the scent of fresh pine is a distant memory.
Now, all I have to do is start repainting the living room after our ceiling remodel. *laughing and shaking my head*
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