Our Smudges Tree

I should be baking, but I want to take a moment  and reflect on this year's Christmas Tree, officially dubbed our Smudges Tree. Smudges is our much loved, but aging dog who will turn 17 years old in early January. 

Not so long ago, Smudges loved to run—whenever we picked him up after a week or weekend of boarding,  Smudges would stretch his legs and sprint in glorious circles around the perimeter of our yard, a joyful blur of beige and white that finally ended in loud gulps of water, wet kisses and a breathless heap of happiness.  

For most of his life, Smudges walked at least two miles a day and it wasn't until early this summer that we noticed a limp had slowed him down. Shortly after that, dusk brought a kind of  sundown confusion that left him pacing or staring at walls. We thought surely this was the end, but our vet continues to assure us that Smudges is old, but not in pain. He still loves to eat and always wags his tail when those of us who love him are near. The past few months have been  marked with a few accidents and a greater than usual amount of sleep, but he's still our sweet Smudges. His soft fur hides his thinness but when I carry him  up and down our staircase, I notice his prominent knobs and boniness— which brings me to this year's Christmas tree. 

Smudges isn't the only one getting older. But while dogs slow down, kids get busier and this year, scheduling conflicts made it impossible to round up my annual tree-shopper-elves. Even my husband didn't have a free moment to accompany me. With just over a week until Christmas, I was forced to make the difficult decision to tree shop by myself. Most places were already sold out and the only trees left standing were odd-shaped, Charlie-Brown trees. Instead of finding the prettiest, fullest, or most fragrant, I decided my only requirement would be that the tree be taller than me. At 5'1"(in heels), I didn't expect this to be such a challenge, but it was. I finally decided on a thin-boned, knobby tree, easy to lift and at least a head taller than I am.  

            I've found a tree, I group texted. A Smudges Tree— thin-boned and easy to carry.

            Perfect, my daughter texted back and my son agreed.  

Our Smudges tree holds only one string of lights, but we've dressed it with our favorite ornaments and stepping back, I must agree.  Our tree is perfect. Just like my sweet Smudges. 

 Don't let the lights on the Smudges tree
distract you from its eponym in the lower left corner.
Merry Christmas Smudges! We love you!