Tree Skirts

Okay, so here’s the situation, we have a tree skirt under our artificial Christmas Tree. I think the only reason it is there is so it doesn’t look so naked with the lack of presents we have under the tree.

I’m not certain exactly when the tree skirt became part of the Christmas décor in its current form, but according to Wikipedia its original purpose was to catch the wax drippings from the candles on the tree. The skirt, however, didn’t disappear after electric lights were strung up on the tree replacing candles, but became more ornate and elaborate rather than utilitarian. I guess it is a way to dress up ass end of the tree before presents start getting piled under it. However, for our past few Christmases, it has been a prominent feature as there haven’t been many gifts.

This isn’t to say that I’m complaining about our tree skirt being such a prominent part of our décor because I like looking at it, but at times it seems a constant reminder that we’re poor. I mean, the only two present we have under the tree we got back in August or September for my nephew’s birthday we never got to give him because his birthday party was cancelled, so instead we’re giving one to him and the other to his brother.

Anyway, so while I’d love to have a full display of gifts to give to people under the Christmas tree, it just isn’t going to happen. Especially after taking in one of our cars to the shop to make sure it would be safe to drive to Idaho and then needing to have $1100 worth of repairs (brakes, tires and a mystery repair which we had to have it towed back to the shop because it apparently whirred really loud and died on the onramp to the highway) which wiped out our account. Of course, one way of looking at it is that we wouldn’t have that money if the bank hadn’t decided to foreclose on us meaning that we don’t have to pay them anymore. I guess we’ll just have to enjoy our Christmas tree skirt instead of presents. Perhaps I need to wrap some empty boxes again this year and put those under the tree? What? You’ve never done that?