Not Even The Snow. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words.

What do you see:

I see an excited young girl who is returning home with a Christmas tree in her hand walking through a crowded street covered with snow

What do you feel:

I feel that this girl is excited to have a Christmas tree for Christmas. So, she didn't mind how tedious it might be trying to drag the Christmas tree through the snow home.

My story: NOT EVEN THE SNOW

“Linda, are you going to meet Uncle Mike under this heavy snow for a Christmas tree? Why not wait till tomorrow?”, Mama asked with a sense of worry in her tone. She didn't know the excitement that was in my heart since the day Uncle Mike promised that he would give us a Christmas tree for our Christmas celebration.
“Don't worry Mama, I'll be fine.” I replied, already running out into the snow. The snow that Christmas eve was a bit heavy. I have had my winter coat on so I didn't have much to worry about the cold.

The last time we had a Christmas tree decorated in our house was when Dad bought us one during his working days in the military. Since Dad had gone about 4 years ago, we have not had any Christmas tree for our Christmas celebration.

I lost my Dad in one of the peace keeping missions in one of the Palestinian countries. That year, the military enlisted my father to follow a peacekeeping mission to one of the warring Palestinian countries. We were traumatized with the news of our father’s demise. Though the country paid compensation to us, the joy we used to have as kids during Christmas couldn't be purchased with that.

Uncle Mike has been trying to make us happy in seasons like this. He has gotten us some new gifts like clothes and toys. Mama has made arrangements for the food and special delicacies to make our day. My siblings were happy. The scent of Christmas was already everywhere in our home.

My joy and that of my siblings were full when after several years, Uncle Mike promised to spice our Christmas celebration with a Christmas tree. I had gathered a few items to decorate the Christmas tree from my tiny savings. So, for the snow to think that it could stop me from collecting the Christmas tree, that was a big lie.

I went to Uncle Mike and got the Christmas tree. It was a bit heavy to carry but with my happiness and determination blended together, I dragged it home. I had it well decorated and I put on Santa's costume which I had borrowed from Jimmy, my school mate. We had a really merry Christmas.