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There are people who would say I am a bit over the top when it comes to my Christmas tree. That I really don't need to take 2 or 3 days to put it up, with meticulous detail and order. I do not order my life like I do my tree.
I have mentioned that I am behind, my tree is usually up the weekend after Thanksgiving. So putting it up this week is way behind schedule but there is no way I could just throw it up without the attention to detail that it deserves.
The tree itself went up last night, and most of the lights. I got to the end of the last strand and was a bit short, but seeing as I had already used about 10 strands I knew I could rearrange a bit and there would still be plenty. I figured I would finish that up after work today. Lights, garland, glass icicles, glass ball ornaments, and then every other little thing. I must do it in order.
The lights were arranged to perfection, I did the blur test - looking at the tree with squinched up eyes to see only the lights - gives me a good idea if they are spread out more or less equally. Beautiful.
I was putting on the garland and without even a how-do-you-do - the lights went out. Every. last. one. I had a small heart palpitation but (in denial) decided I would continue with the garland and by the time I was done with that - all the lights would come back on by themselves. Uh huh, because things work that way for me, don't they?
When the lights did not come on again, magically, I did what I do instead of throwing a fit of some sort. I ignored it. I sat down and made a few snowflakes, watched some TV. The lights were still out. I was not doing Lamaze breathing yet. That would have meant I was acknowledging the problem.
Walking around the tree randomly shaking a strand of lights here and there didn't work so I did what made sense to me. I took the garland off knowing in my heart of hearts that the lights would spring to life again as soon as I finished that task. Of course I was not willing to think about the fact that once they came back on - it could happen again once I got all the ornaments on and the tree decorated to my exacting standards.
So, when nothing I did worked and contemplating throwing the tree out into the snow didn't quite seem to fit the situation, after all, I am an adult, I deal with a problem right? Of course I do! I decided to make everything better by doing something I do quite well. Put it off until tomorrow. For the moment - I took a picture or 2 and made blog fodder out of it.
I don't want to think about what I might have done if I had allowed myself to dwell on this turn of events much longer. This way - I have effectively distanced myself from it and have soothed myself as well.
Neurotic much? Not me!!
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