Tuesday, December 19, 2006

The Christmas Tree Whisperer

We got a table-size Christmas tree this year (you may remember 'Spike' from an earlier post), wishing to avoid constantly fishing a wet and delighted Max out of the tree-water receptacle, or deperching a sap-covered and delighted Max from the top of a freshly climbed Christmas tree. My parents, however, opted for the full-size variety, and Max had his first interaction with it on Sunday. For most of the day, he ignored the tree completely. This led me to feelings of great bitterness and betrayal, since I had deprived myself (and my cats) of a giant tree with the understanding that Max would be certain to abuse it. However, I comfort myself with the idea that if Max were exposed to a large and accessible tree in his own home, with no Granny or Gramps to entertain him all day within an inch of his very life, he would show greater interest in it than he did on Sunday. At the very end of the day, Max did become intrigued by the lights and ornaments. He carefully rearranged several decorations for his grandparents.

Some ornaments didn't make the cut, and had to be flung dramatically to the ground. Best of all, I took the opportunity, while my parents were distracted by Max's tree petting, to conceal Santa Bell amongst the many Christmas decorations in my parents' house. That's my interpretation of the Christmas Spirit!

5 comments:

Ian said...

Thats right, Leens. Santa Bell is now yours. Enjoy hunting him down.

Anonymous said...

Santa Bell is enjoying his TEMPORARY visit. He looks forward to hopping on his sleigh and riding over the hills and through the woods to the Tillman home very (very) soon.

Jabbertrack said...

Is the goal of hiding Santa Bell so that he cannot be found?

I have some ideas and I'm for hire

Chelsa said...

The goal is to make it difficult, but not impossible, to find Santa Bell. The even more important goal is to showcase your own cleverness and creativity with your choice of hiding place. My parents once baked him into a cake and left the cake at my house. I would be thrilled to hire you as a consultant, Mike, provided that we can pay you in Ian pizza. :-)

Anonymous said...

Beware Mike...do not get lured into the Santa Bell darkness.