| THE MIRACLE OF A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS TREE |
Frequently, she would see the same group of "treasure hunters" at the stores, each one searching
for that special something that he or she couldn't live without. To the dedicated "treasure hunters" it
was like meeting at the local, coffee shop but without the coffee. Seeing the same people go from
store to store, Elaine automatically knew what each shopper was interested in finding.
A couple of ladies would always rummage through the bins of clothes to resale the items in their,
respective thrift shops down the street. Since clothes at this particular thrift store were weighed and
sold by the pound, buying them there and reselling them by the piece wasn't such a bad idea. One
gentleman, who probably was a book dealer, could always be found with his head buried inside the
huge, cardboard boxes which were full of books. One middle-aged man could be seen with his work
badge on and meandering through the aisles on his lunch break.
Not only did Elaine know the shoppers, she knew the names of many of the cashers. On this
particular morning, Elaine went shopping alone. Normally, she would survey the aisles of the store
first and then take another look around to see if anything new had been placed out before she made
her purchases. She didn't see anything that particular day that struck her fancy but she did decide to
purchase an old, artificial Christmas tree which was approximately 6' tall, rather bare and not having
the fullness of most trees. It looked as though it had been tossed into the corner as it was lying rather
dormant. She thought to herself, oh well, for $.99, what did she have to lose?
It was not uncommon for Elaine to buy off-season items because that's where the best deals were to
be found. In the heat of the summer she would be purchasing Christmas trees and in the dead, cold
of winter, she would be buying Easter items. After all, who would be buying them at that time? She
would look at an item, no matter how beat up and wonder if it could still be used for something. She
thought that maybe the good Lord might look at us this way too.
After dragging and paying for the tree up front, she stuffed it into the back of her mini-van which was
used to haul her various treasures home. By now, Elaine was getting pretty good in her packing skills
of the various sizes and shapes of item that were being transported into the back of her van.
Although, once, she did have to get a male employee at one of the thrift stores to dismantle and
remove two, back seats so as to get a $9.99, small, green-velvet loveseat into the van.
Her husband, Billy, was always in dismay at what and how much she managed to stuff into the back
of her mini-van. Usually, Elaine would unload her treasures when Billy wasn't at home to avoid his
forthcoming comments. There must be a pack rat in every family as Elaine's dad would always want
to bring home another bicycle much to the disapproval of her mom. Dad was also known for sneaking
things into the home.
In the past, on Thursdays which was trash collection day, Elaine would get up early in the morning
and scour the neighborhood looking to pick up goodies such as, furniture and the like. Once, she
even brought home an old, homemade, wooden, Halloween coffin to add to her collection. There
wasn't much that she wouldn't consider bringing home. She definitely believed in recycling, as she
looked at something and wondered what she could make out of it.
When Elaine pulled into the driveway, unloaded her Christmas tree and drug it into the house, as
usual, Billy raised his eyebrows, shook his head as he stated, why did you bring that ugly tree home,
it looks like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree? While beaming proudly, she stated, it only cost $.99.
Usually, on the weekends, Elaine would search the local newspapers for the various yard sales and
drag Billy along with her. Billy probably went along to discourage her from bringing anything else
home. Even with his disapproving looks and comments, it usually didn't work. He would rightfully
explain that they couldn't get anything else into the garage. He probably wasn't being unreasonable,
in just for once, wanting to be able to get his car into the garage.
As usual, Elaine would explain to him that he didn't have "the vision" for it, as she would see
something as it would be, not how it is, so she was unruffled about his comment on her tree. Elaine
proceeded to place the tree in the outside shed along with the other, collected holiday items.
Summer continued into fall, while she proceeded to feel worse and worse. She struggled through the
Thanksgiving Holiday leading into Christmas. They both loved Christmas, it being their favorite time
of the year. They always went way out in decorating the inside and the outside of their home.
Normally, they placed outside lights around the roof of the house and a lighted, nativity scene on the
front lawn.
Elaine loved to make her own decorations. She made 2, nice large wreaths out of hoola-hoops with
garland and flashing lights to be hung over the front window and the garage door. On one of her
excursions, she purchased an artificial, spruce Christmas tree which was sitting in a round, metal
bucket that had large, red, outdoor light strung around it. She found hand painted, wooden cut-outs
of wild animals and added them to the tree, all this costing $5.00. She added small baskets to the
tree and filled them with birdseed and placed the tree in her rose garden for the wild animals.
Inside their home were the usual collections of Santas, stockings, musicals and other, seasonal items
that had been collected and received as gifts over the years. The fireplace mantel was the temporary
home to a miniature, lighted, Christmas village while the base of the fireplace was covered with
stuffed animals, Santas, reindeer and 2, large, animated angels. However, this year was different as
she didn't feel well or have the strength or the heart to decorate as usual. This year's decorating was
slimmed down considerably. She only placed a few items around the house and no lights were strung
outside.
Having a live, Fraiser tree with needles and the fresh scent reminded them of an old timey Christmas
of their younger days. Billy would usually go over-board and purchase the biggest and the fullest tree
that he could find on the lot. Elaine loved to watch Billy scrutinize the trees, inspecting each one,
searching for the perfect tree. Once, he bought too large a tree for the house and had to cut
portions of it off to get it into the living room.
This year, they found a suitable, live tree and positioned it in front of the picture window. Much to
Billy's dismay, Elaine went outside to the shed, retrieved her smaller tree and placed it in the corner
of the family room. Billy proceeded to decorate his larger, live tree with miniature, clear lights and
added other appropriate decorations. He was proud of how he had strategically placed the lights on
the tree, probably a guy thing.
During the day while Billy was working, Elaine slowly, when able, proceeded to add colorful lights,
glass bulbs, stuffed animals and any other thing that could fill a hole in her much smaller tree. One
early evening when Billy came home from work, he couldn't believe his eyes. Elaine's Charlie Brown
tree was beautiful with colored lights, stuffed animals and a fiber-optic angel sitting on top and not a
space was to be found in it while it slowly revolved around for all to see. Everyone who came to visit
always commented on how beautiful the tree was.
As the Christmas holiday drew nearer and nearer, Elaine grew sicker and sicker and could only lie on
the couch for hours and watch the lights of the tree go around. Elaine felt so bad during the weeks
following Thanksgiving, especially on one day, she thought that she was going to die.
After numerous trips to numerous doctors to include blood tests in veins and arteries, x-rays, CAT
scan, MRI, IV treatments and 2, excruciating, bone biopsies, a proper diagnosis and appropriate
treatments were given. Elaine slowly began to recover her strength, even though she was told that
she almost died and had an incurable disease. This $.99, thrift store, Christmas tree meant more to
Elaine than any other tree that had ever been in their home. She will always cherish this special,
miracle tree and what a comfort it was to her during the worse time of her life.
Christmas 2003 rolled around as fast as all the holidays do. Much to Elaine's surprise, Billy wanted to
know, when was she going to put up the Charlie Brown tree? A big smile and feeling of contentment
came over her as this $.99, reject, Christmas tree had now become a holiday tradition in their home
and has been so ever since.
Elaine no longer fears death as on her sickest day, she found it to be the most peaceful day of her
life. Nevertheless, she does believe that God has a purpose for all his children and that he is always
with us in sickness, in health, in life and in death.
Elaine understands that many are suffering and hurting from various problems of life, which may
seem insurmountable and hopeless. She encourages all to take one day at a time and place their
faith in God and to remember one of her favorite scriptures which is found in Genesis, it asks, is
anything to hard for God?
It was the fall of 2003 and Elaine had not been feeling well for some time. In
the previous year she had severe leg and back pain which interfered with her
getting around and with her daily activities. Walking, especially through the
local grocery and shopping centers, cause her great pain.
She went to her primary care doctor and he ordered x-rays. The radiologist
acknowledged some abnormalities and recommended that she have an MRI,
magnetic resonance imaging. The MRI revealed that she had a herniated disc
which was pinching her L4 -L5 nerves, which caused pain to shoot throughout
her legs.
A barrage of pain medications were prescribed at the Pain Clinic to no great
avail. She then underwent a nerve block to her spine which did show
immediate relief, but unfortunately, the pain only subsided for 3 weeks. At that
point, she decided to live on the pain medications as surgery had its own risks
and there were no guarantees of success.
Now, she was tired most of the time and having problems with her memory.
Elaine knew that she needed to go to the grocery store but when it came time
to go, she couldn't remember for what. She found herself writing down simple,
three-digit, area-code numbers. She could easily remember something 20
years ago but could not remember something 2 weeks ago.
the previous year she had severe leg and back pain which interfered with her
getting around and with her daily activities. Walking, especially through the
local grocery and shopping centers, cause her great pain.
She went to her primary care doctor and he ordered x-rays. The radiologist
acknowledged some abnormalities and recommended that she have an MRI,
magnetic resonance imaging. The MRI revealed that she had a herniated disc
which was pinching her L4 -L5 nerves, which caused pain to shoot throughout
her legs.
A barrage of pain medications were prescribed at the Pain Clinic to no great
avail. She then underwent a nerve block to her spine which did show
immediate relief, but unfortunately, the pain only subsided for 3 weeks. At that
point, she decided to live on the pain medications as surgery had its own risks
and there were no guarantees of success.
Now, she was tired most of the time and having problems with her memory.
Elaine knew that she needed to go to the grocery store but when it came time
to go, she couldn't remember for what. She found herself writing down simple,
three-digit, area-code numbers. She could easily remember something 20
years ago but could not remember something 2 weeks ago.
Her illness continued on till weight loss and sickness occurred.
Normal tasks around the house were now becoming a great chore.
She no longer had the strength to cook full meals or to clean the
house. She was short and irritable and seemed to be going down hill
and very fast.
In the summer, on one of her better days, she went to one of her
favorite thrift stores. Elaine would frequent the local thrift stores and
take her dad along as he also loved them too. They followed a
routine, shopping path to the various stores. Fortunately, most of
their stores were located in the same area.
Shopping at the local, thrift stores was always a special treat
because no two days were the same as the shelves were restocked
several times each day. Elaine loved to search for household items
and furniture while her dad checked out the leather belts, bicycles
and tin cans to add to his collection. Each trip to the thrift store was
like being on a treasure hunt and one never knew what treasures
were waiting to be discovered. Elaine was always amazed at what
people would toss out, sometimes being brand new with the price tag
still attached. She always referred to her new, found treasures as
"good junk".
Normal tasks around the house were now becoming a great chore.
She no longer had the strength to cook full meals or to clean the
house. She was short and irritable and seemed to be going down hill
and very fast.
In the summer, on one of her better days, she went to one of her
favorite thrift stores. Elaine would frequent the local thrift stores and
take her dad along as he also loved them too. They followed a
routine, shopping path to the various stores. Fortunately, most of
their stores were located in the same area.
Shopping at the local, thrift stores was always a special treat
because no two days were the same as the shelves were restocked
several times each day. Elaine loved to search for household items
and furniture while her dad checked out the leather belts, bicycles
and tin cans to add to his collection. Each trip to the thrift store was
like being on a treasure hunt and one never knew what treasures
were waiting to be discovered. Elaine was always amazed at what
people would toss out, sometimes being brand new with the price tag
still attached. She always referred to her new, found treasures as
"good junk".