The Holiday Spirit

When I got to work this morning, my office building's lobby was dressed to the nines for the holiday season. Giant snowballs lay atop the revolving doors, reindeer flanked the halls, a giant menorah twinkled in the window, and a beautiful Christmas tree had its top cut off. Yup, it was headless.

The tree in my lobby is too big for the room.

Now, I've never had a Christmas tree in my life, but even I know that part of the beauty of the tree is the top - the crowning jewel delicately perched on a lone branch. I've never really understood how an angel or a star or a giant light bulb can stay on top of a tree, but something’s are meant to be enjoyed, not understood.

Since this is my first year in this building, I wondered if there is the same dilemma every year by the building management. Do we get the big tree or the bigger tree? Bigger is always better right? Who cares that it doesn't fit?

The lobbed-off tree has an end of "The Da Vinci Code" look, where the top of the pyramid is hidden and continues on to the next floor. It would actually be rad if the 2nd floor had a little tree topper with a giant star on it. A little private joke amongst the staff of the Grace building and Robert Langdon.

In case you are wondering if the same people who keep your corporate lobby stocked with fresh floral arrangements each week are the masterminds around your new Christmas tree, I have the answer. I met a guy on Saturday night who decorates Christmas trees. This is all he does for a living - despite the fact that the tree decorating season lasts about one month. When asked how he spends his 11-month long off-season, he simply explained that he decorates other things. OK.

Now, I know what you tare thinking, I was in a crowded bar, screaming over my shoulder (Mystery would be so proud) and barely coherent, let alone comprehensible. This guy surely can't just decorate Christmas trees and various other "things" all year long. But you are wrong. I was at an interim spot (before I later went out to a crowded bar where I negged dudes for their love of Michael Phelps - I just don't get it) where it was quiet and well lit. My friend and I had a very clear, sober conversation with the tree man. That is all there is.

Now, I'm not putting down manual labor or the holiday spirit in any way shape or form, but I am quite perplexed as to how someone can sustain themselves (drinking overpriced beer) in NYC by working only one month. Maybe he was messing with us.

I certainly hope he was. Because if I can continue to live the fabulous life by designing something beautiful for a few weeks a year, I'm off to pursue a new career in the Christmas Arts. Jews for Jesus!