Hurry, The Goose is Getting Fat
By AnjaP
@Rollo1 (16676)
Boston, Massachusetts
December 15, 2015 6:00am CST
I was okay with not having the Christmas tree up before the 1st of December. I was okay with missing that St Nicholas day thing, too. But it's the freaking fifteenth of December, and there are fewer days to Christmas than ever.
So, it had to be done. We ventured into the black hole - the space under the stairs where all things unwanted, unnecessary, or broken are hidden. The long, rectangular cardboard box lay beneath a box of wires, cables, cords and old dial-up modems. It bulged at the sides, was open at one end, and we pulled it by the length of rope that was tied around it to keep stray branches from expanding and pushing their way out of this corrugated prison. Ah ha! I thought. That's where my clothesline went!
The tree was chopped into three. Three sections that had to be joined and secured to make it stand tall. It was assembled and all the plugs were joined, so the lights were one, end to end. Finally, we added electricity. The top lit up. The bottom branches that splay out like welcoming arms lit up. The middle of the tree, not so much. Darkness.
The lights are attached to the branches, so there was no replacing the unlit string. I didn't know if it was a case of all the bulbs going dark at once, or the wires being damaged. I tried to move a few bulbs around. A few broke off in my hand, leaving their plugs in the tree.
It's over for this tree, it's not going to see another Christmas. It's a fire waiting to short circuit and ignite. Next stop, the trash truck.
And it's December 15th, the goose is getting fat and there is no Christmas tree.
20 people like this
21 responses
@LadyDuck (502487)
• Italy
15 Dec 15
@Jessicalynnt I am making one like this, they are pretty if you hang something on the branches.
4 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
15 Dec 15
I have often wondered how the light won't work when they did last Christmas and the lights were put away working. What's up with that.
3 people like this
@ataboy (737)
• United States
16 Dec 15
I think it's it's the single-lost-sock army from the dryer that sneaks into your light supply and messes with them, @fishtiger58! 
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Dec 15
@Rollo1 And they get all tangled up too, like is someone going up to the attic behind my back and doing this stuff just to mess with my head.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
15 Dec 15
I say put some lights on that center section and pretend they are the originals. I have the same issue with one of mine but it is the bottom section. I am going to add lights for this year and the day after Christmas I will go looking for a discounted one.
3 people like this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
15 Dec 15
@BelleStarr @Jessicalynnt There are bulbs broken off in the sockets. That one string has just one section that doesn't work, and I am afraid of electrical fires.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Dec 15
@BelleStarr I would have to run extension cords into the tree. I think it has seen its day poor ugly thing.
3 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
16 Dec 15
@Rollo1 Discounnect that section of lights and add a string of lights. All of my sections have their own plug I assume yours is the same.
2 people like this
@AbbyGreenhill (45490)
• United States
15 Dec 15
We bought a new tree last year, sometimes you just have to say goodbye to the hold and hello to the new.
3 people like this
!
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
15 Dec 15
lol, put a loose strand over the broken one! lol.
3 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Dec 15
This is our first year having a prelit artificial tree. We have gotten fake trees in the past, but not prelit just because I knew what a pain it would be if the lights went out. But we got this one on sale at the end of last year. Hopefully it lasts us a couple years.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
16 Dec 15
We have a tree that we bought decades ago, long before my siblings ever got married and had kids. We keep it hidden safe but this time we put the lights on the wrong place that it got flooded during the last typhoon. We didn't want to take risk so we bought new lights. I remember my brother putting lights on the mango tree and the carpenter who put it took a great risk, almost fell. maybe you should buy new lights instead and a electric connection that would prevent it from short circuit fire. as long as your having a nice meal together, i think that's good enough christmas.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
15 Dec 15
uh ohhh tick tock.... I have confidence... that you'll get it sorted.... shame about the tree though...I broke two bits off our tree accidently.... it is the type where the branches are on metal rods, and you unfold them to open the tree up and decorate and then fold them closed to put it away again....and As I was unfolding it, Two branches snapped off... needless to say ,....that part of the tree is not on display... it's turned to tne wall..lol's
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
15 Dec 15
@Rollo1 nnooo, you're right not to.... that could definately be a fire hazard... 
@bluesa (15022)
• Johannesburg, South Africa
15 Dec 15
@Rollo1 . Uh oh, that is a fire waiting to happen, and, uhm, I (it is not my fault, just time gets away is all) do not have the Christmas tree up yet either...Actually, with this reminder, I think this weekend I will have to see if our tree is still functional and get it decorated already... I hope you soon have a Christmas tree up.
2 people like this
@shshiju (10342)
• Cochin, India
15 Dec 15
Earlier we are doing the same thing chopping a tree and decorate it and erected it proper place. Usually we are using Nutmeg tree. But now we are decorating a Natural Xmas tree which have planted there years ago.
So we are not hurting to anybody now.
2 people like this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
16 Dec 15
I hope you get it all sorted out. It is getting late but it is still not too late to replace the tree or the lights.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
15 Dec 15
Could you unplug the tree and add a string of lights ?
1 person likes this
