O Christmas Tree

In December of 1958 we decided that we would get a permit and go to the mountains to get our own Christmas tree like we had read in so many stories about people doing.  We would have sloppy-joes to eat (because we could take it up and keep it hot) and hot chocolate and wouldn’t need to have a fire.

Five men on a mission!
Lou, Jr - Don - Tom - Jim - Lou, Sr
blurry picture, but it documents the infamous day

We had our tree hunting expedition in the mountains near San Isabel, above Rye, Colorado.  It was a cool, crisp day with snow on the ground and a lot of sunshine.  It was a great day for a Christmas tree hunting party!

Leona has always been very particular about her Christmas tree.  It had to be of excellent shape with well filled out limbs in the right places, etc.  So as soon as we got out of the car, the four boys went in four directions - each going to find the perfect tree that would suit Mom.  As they each would find one, they would call for her to come see it.  Since they didn’t stay together, she was having to run all over the mountainside to inspect the finds of each boy.

Naturally the boys never found the same tree, nor were their trees together, so she had a long walk between them.  They were not finding very good trees that were satisfactory to her.  As time went by, and after many trips across the little valley between the two ridges that the boys were on, she became less critical and finally said, “Just take any one; I’m tired!”  Jim and Don carried a tree in from the forest, and we tied it on top of our station wagon.  Leona got the lunch ready for us; we were all starving.

Christmas tree lunch
Jim - Don (front)
Lou, Jr - Tom - Leona (back

We had a good time, and the tree was satisfactory, but for some reason we never went back to the mountains for another Christmas tree!