Last year, I thought those stressful tree days were behind me. I traveled with Kevin's family up into the mountains to their traditional tree farm, cut down our own perfect tree, carted it back and happily planted it in our living room. No fights, no strife, riding in the back of a 1987 Dodge Caravan was my only complaint.
This year, the wheels came off.
Here were the players on the field:
Me, Kevin, Mojito, Franklin, Cricket, mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law-- that's 2 dogs, 1 baby, and four in laws.
We took two cars, and the car ride up was nice. I didn't even mind how unbelievably far we had to drive up winding mountain roads to get to the trees-- but Mojito did.
Who knew dogs get car sick? If any dog is sensitive enough to get queasy, it's my chihua-chshund. Luckily he didn't barf on me, he barfed on the vinyl seat, but I still had to mop up the regurgitated kibbles. Here's a photo of Mojito giving me the look of "please let me out.":
When we got out of the car, it became clear that I did not come prepared. No gloves, no baby hat or pacifier and no bjorn pouch. Crap. The dogs went nutz with all the people milling around and all the trees to pee on.
And as for the perfect tree, that idea went out the window. When he asked "what kind do you want?" I replied "a close one."
Kevin carried Cricket until he had to cut the tree down. After that hand off to Grandma, she cried for over an hour, straight through. It was unbelivable. So loud, especially when you're trapped in a car.
Scream scream scream down the mountain. Even after we got home and I fed her, she still was inconsolable. As we were trying to set the tree up-- cry cry cry.
I'm going add that to the top of my list of holiday spirit killers, along with drunken relatives, and political arguments- the screaming baby.
3 comments:
reason #874 that i prefer my fake tree. hopefully the baby will enjoy watching while you decorate? i hope! :)
I knew that dogs get carsick. That's why we don't let our clients give their pets' oral medications until they get home.
When they get mad that we don't give it to them there at the hospital (and that they actually have to care for the dog themself) I tell them that I don't want them to have to clean up pyrantel dewormer puke from their Lexus leather interior after the dog gets carsick. They thank me after that and leave happily.
I do still work in West Plano.
Cricket is more treehugging than the average baby and was reacting to the unnecessary murder of a living tree.
Don't even think about littering in front of her.
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