getting in the spirit....

Somehow time slipped away from us and we still had no tree.  It's not that I'm not in the "spirit" but hubby and I just haven't managed to spend any time together, lately.  Anyway, it got to the point that I felt why bother?  It's only a few days before Christmas and then we leave for out-of-town on Christmas for a few days.  Spend, at least, $50 + - just seemed to be a waste "almost".  Anyway, it wasn't that I was against getting one but the practical side of me kept nagging me.  So when we went out shopping for the last of the items we needed to get, I recalled a friend of mine telling me that there were trees for sale for $20 at the shopping center we were going to.  It really seemed out of place for them to sell trees for that price because it's an upscale shopping center but she was right. When we drove up there were tons left. I wonder if it's because some people would assume that the trees would be expensive and others (the ones with deep pockets) would think that the trees were too cheap (something has to be wrong with them).  So we get out of our van and are met by an elderly man who told us all the trees were $20.  Strangely enough, the first tree I see I tell him "We'll take it".  He looked at me as if I had two heads and asked me if I wanted to look around some more.  My husband chuckled because it the past I was sooo picky about getting a tree when the boys were young.  I had to check out just about every tree on the lot very carefully.  Well, I then agreed that maybe I should look some more.  One row over I see another one and said I was interested in "that one".  The old man told us that the tree I chose was FREE!  He said he couldn't sell the row of trees this tree was in because they weren't sellable.  So - I told him we'd take it!  He then proceeded to help my husband tie the tree to the roof of our van.  My husband then reaches into his pocket, pulls out his wallet, and tips the man $10.00 for helping us.  I felt better.  And by the way, it's a fragrant, short needled tree, perfectly shaped beautiful tree!  Maybe not as full as another one would be but not to shabby!   T-Man didn't come home again the other night.  He went to concert and decided to spend the night at his friends (about a 10 minute walk) because "that's where everyone was dropped off".  He said he would have had to walk home and since it was late, he didn't want to.  I was angry with him, at first. I even threatened to shut off his phone until I realized that maybe that isn't so bad that he does that. He is obviously sober.  He hasn't been flying off the handle. He has been cleaning up after himself. In other words - he seems to be in a good place. We were patient with our middle guy - and now he's flourishing!  Patience.  Both of my boys went through more crap than many kids their ages and, therefore, need(ed) a bit more time to "grow". I am grateful for what we have right now and I just want to hang onto this time as long as I can.  And strangely enough, my husband received a pretty nice bonus and a raise to boot!  How can that be in this economy?