Poor at Christmas........non Valk.

[DIGGER]

We were very poor when the kids were young but it was still a very precious time when Christmas came around. We could not afford to buy a tree, so we would load the three kids up in the family car, a 68 VW bug and go looking for the perfect tree. My son would say, "How about that one dad? It looks nice."

"No son, there is a street light and it's too close to the house. See that fence in the back yard? They probably have a dog. Let's keep looking."




Kinda brings a tear to your eyes don't it.

[Jess from VA]

We could afford a tree, but dad worked so hard and long hours, we often did not get one until the last minute.  When you hit the lot with three left, they all suck, and half the needles already fell off. 

Charley Brown trees.

[Master Blaster]

Dirt poor and lived in the country, Deep East Texas, sawmill community, and never heard of or dreamed of buying a Christmas tree. As a kid, spent almost every wakeful minute running the woods, climbing trees, fishing all the secret holes.  Early fall would mark a few promising trees in my rambling, and mid December would get Pop to come with me and pick one out.  Back then I really did believe in Santa.   Was a wonderful time before artificial trees came on the scene.  Remember the wonderful aroma the fresh cut tree brought in the house.

[sandy]

We were so poor, my Mom cut the pockets out my pants so I'd have something to play with.

[Jeff K]

Dirt poor and lived in the country, Deep East Texas, sawmill community, and never heard of or dreamed of buying a Christmas tree. As a kid, spent almost every wakeful minute running the woods, climbing trees, fishing all the secret holes.  Early fall would mark a few promising trees in my rambling, and mid December would get Pop to come with me and pick one out.  Back then I really did believe in Santa.   Was a wonderful time before artificial trees came on the scene.  Remember the wonderful aroma the fresh cut tree brought in the house.

Yeah, I remember... throwing up all night... still can't stand the smell, between the smell of sugar cookies (barf) and pine trees trapped in a house (yak) Christmas was a house full of nasty smells. Maybe thats why I still hate Christmas? 

[Jess from VA]

We were so poor, my Mom cut the pockets out my pants so I'd have something to play with.

 

[art]

We were so poor, my Mom cut the pockets out my pants so I'd have something to play with.

I bet you still don't have pockets.

[cookiedough]

NEVER had a real tree, artificial is the way to go.  My parents had a huge artificial for years and years.  Our local small town even had an xmas tree decoration contest when I was a kid.  I told mom to enter our tree since it had fake birds shown in the kodak camera that came out on one of them rolls of film in front and the pic developed right in front of your eyes.  NOW that is technology.  Mom did win first place, a whole 25 bucks, for best decorated tree, probably paid for that artificial tree back in the 70's. 

We have a smaller artificial in our house about 5' tall and we just carry it down in the basement still assembled with most stuff still on it don't bother disassembling but do take off some ornaments is all, lights stay on it usually.  I could care less. 

Now thinking of it,  we need to take it down, Christmas is over and done.  Not a huge fan of Christmas anyways way too much money spent on foolish stuff will probably never use anyways.  I do like the few days off work with pay though.