Is Christmas over yet?

Why yes, I work in retail, why do you ask?

*boggle*

I put up the Christmas tree for the first time in I think it's three years, it may be four. Everything on it is new. I think something in me said I needed to start over. I'm not really certain as to the motivation, to be honest.

There were ornaments that I bought at Dillards last year at their after Christmas sale. I believe I bought them with other people in mind (one is an ornament shaped like a dog, complete with glass ears.) There's a silver heart with pink feathers, a paper star embedded with wildflower seeds and plush Santa face I hung at the top.

Found as I was going through the Dillards bag was a Christmas sweater I'd completely forgotten I'd bought myself and the small wallet Mom gave me. The best find of all of it, was a framed picture of Mom, Dad and Dan. This was probably the last professional photo Dad ever had taken. I couldn't help it, I got misty eyed. I dreamed about Dad last night. In the dream I couldn't face him, I was afraid, I suppose, that I would get upset. I think maybe, he wanted me to do this today. I actually don't ever remember being given this little picture. And if I hadn't put up the tree, who knows when I would have seen it?

Merry Christmas everyone. *sends hugs all around*