The Two hundred and forty sixth story

 Once upon a time there was a christmas light who thought the stars were also christmas lights and did not understand why they wouldn't talk to him.

The two hundred and forty fourth story

Once upon a time there was a tree lined street where all the leaves traded gossip on what trees looked the best in lights.

The Thirty Third Story

Another Christmas Story: I love the concept of the christmas tree. The first year I had my own apartment, in Oberlin, I went out and got one as soon as they went on sale. I brought it home. I leaned it against a wall. I called my Dad. The only words I said were "Dad, I have a problem" without pause, he responded "Five gallon bucket, gravel from the drive way" I said thanks and hung up. I swear to god, I hadn't even told him I was getting a tree.

The Twenty Eighth Story

My brother went to Japan for several years after graduating from college. The first Christmas he was gone, my mother and I flew to Thailand to meet up with him and his then girlfriend, Vika. There are lots of stories that come from that trip (the one about the hiking boots and lack thereof originates here). This is just a short aside, though. It is easy to lose track of days when traveling; Mom was more alert than the rest of us. Christmas morning found us on a plane on or way to Phuket. Mom pulled a tiny fake pine tree out of her carry-on and started singing christmas carols in the middle of the flight.