Ornamental Additions

I broke down and put up Christmas decorations. I put up my tree with all my lights, and the I got out my ornaments. So many of my ornaments mark big events, like when I brought my baby girl(puppy) home or the dove ornament, I put up after my grand father died. It reminds me of the importance of the people and the moments that shape my life.

This year I added a new ornament. It's not very pretty, and looks rather displaced on the tree. It's not warm or shiny. It does not stand out among all the others and I'm OK with that.

My new ornament is the first insulin pen I was handed at the hospital. Now it is empty, and still has the faint odor of old band aids, but I kept it. It means something very important to me. It does not represent the beginning of a chronic illness/terrible disease, but the lifeline that saves me every day. If it were not for the insulin, my disease would not be chronic, but my life would be over. For this reason, I hold it in very high regard. Definitely a love/hate relationship, but I can never deny it's power or praise.

It is my one new addition to the tree and it represents my future.

To Decorate or Not To Decorate

Among all the things I had to get done this weekend, one thing purposely slipped my mind. I saw it everywhere though. All the Christmas decorations glimmering from homes, everywhere I turned. I feel like I've entered a mini Vegas. I think that while I was working on Friday, those that had the day off went running with glee and a lot of caffeine to get those massive decorations up that quickly.

Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas and usually run to my decorations as well. I mean, with the amount of time it takes to get them up, I want to enjoy them as long as possible. This year is different though. I'm feeling a little Grinch. For one, I can't believe Christmas time has already come around again. Two, I've been working on Christmas ads for the last two months, so I'm already tired of the commercialism. Last, but not least, I just took down my Halloween decorations, so you can see where my priorities are.

This small decision is killing me though. I know it won't be the same without the decorations, but I just don't feel like putting them up. I'm giving myself two days to make the decision. To Decorate or Not to Decorate...that is the question.