IlookedatmybeautifulChristmastreeandsighed.Itwastime.TheNewYearwasaweekoldandmytreestillstoodinthecornerofourroomwithitscollectionofmemoriesproudlydisplayedinashowerofcolorfullights.I’dprocrastinated
IlookedatmybeautifulChristmastreeandsighed.Itwastime.TheNewYearwasaweekoldandmytreestillstoodinthecornerofourroomwithitscollectionofmemoriesproudlydisplayedinashowerofcolorfullights.I’dprocrastinated(拖延,耽搁)longenough.
Igotup,wenttothegarageanddraggedalltheboxesintotheroom.Thegarland(花环)wasthefirsttocomedown.Thetreelookednaked(光秃秃的)already.Itookthelargeornament(装饰物)offnext.Theymadealargepileonourbed.Anhourlater,ourbedwascoveredwithChristmasmemories.Eachpilecontainedanornamentalongwithitsmatchingbrothersandsistersfromsetspurchasedmanyyearsago.
Ipreparedtheboxesandcarefullyplacedornamentsintheirprotectivepackaging,pausingeveryfewminutestoadmireafavorite.“Hey,littleSanta!”IheldtheSantafrommychildhood.“Thanksforbeingmyfriendforalmostfiftyyears.”Hewasalittleraggedbutstillgivesmeafloodofwonderfulmemories.“Untilnextyear,mydearfriend.”
Therewasacollectionofhandmadeones.Mychildrenmadeinthetheirfirstyearsofschool,morethantwentyyearsago.Madebytinyhands,theyarefarfromperfectindesign,buteveryyeartheygoonmymemorytree-memoriesofyounggiggles(咯咯地笑)onChristmasmorningandasmilingfacewhentheyhandedthemtomewhenIcamehomefromwork.“Lookwhatwemade,Daddy!”
“Oh!Itisbeautiful.Let’sfindaspecialspotonthetreeforit.”Everyyearsince,theyaredisplayed.
AfewhoursafterIstarted,thefilledboxeswerebackinthegarage,theroomwasvacuumed(用吸尘器清扫)andIsatstaringatabarren(空荡荡的)corner.Theroomseemedsoempty.Ittookmetwodaysofworktoassemble(收集)anddecoratemytree,butonlyafewhourstotakeitapart.
Mytreeislikeagoodmarriageoragreatfriendship.Likethetree,theytakealongtimetoassembleanddecoratewithmemories,butcanbetorndownquickly.
EveryyearIhavetoputmytreeaway,butnotmymarriageorfriendships.Itakegreatcareofthose.TheygettoglowinthecornerofmylifeforaslongasIlive.Igettoanalyzemytreeandfindmemoriesforafewweekseveryyear.Icandothesamewiththelovesinmylifeeveryday.Takegreatcareofyourfriendshipsandyourmarriage.Oncetheycomedown,theyaren’taseasytoputbacktogetherasaChristmastree.Standtheminthats