Are pink Christmas trees really Christmas?

The Coffee Cluster is dishing about can a pink tree really be considered a Christmas tree.  Note decision made to call it a Christmas tree – not a holiday tree – so stop reading if offended already.  It took a while to get the white tree off the table but majority rule was “that tree could be snow covered”.  Pink, not so much.  So phones were out and pictures were shown.  Decorating décor was taken into consideration.  Bit of a discussion over if you wanted a pink tree to put it in your daughter’s or master bedroom.  No, this Coffee Cluster was about having your pink tree for all to see. 

All you have to do is put pink tree in any search engine and WOW.  There are a lot of different shades of pink trees out there.  No one came right out and said the pink trees in the pictures were ugly, just that they didn’t look like Christmas.  That brought out the question “what exactly does Christmas look like and who gets to define it?”  That demanded more coffee.  The talk over defining Christmas was it can be about traditions and your family keeping them, making or changing them.  Nothing should be stagnating if it no longer works.  Take a step back and re-evaluate if that five hour drive is worth it.  Christmas should also be about feelings and giving.  It can be a time of getting together to celebrate the season.  Of giving of your time to worthy causes during a hard time of year for some individuals.  Taking time to be grateful for what you have not what you want.

So the final decision of the Coffee Cluster was if we (at this table) get to define Christmas as giving and feeling grateful than yes we can have a pink Christmas tree.  If a pink tree makes us smile and gives us a warm grateful feeling than that makes it a Christmas tree.

Party in or out ?

  

The coffee cluster are discussing party in or out?  It is coming up to that time of year where organisations are deciding whether to have their holiday party at a restaurant or if some brave sole is willing to host at their home.  Some of us in the cluster are not brave soles.

If the decision is to host at the brave sole's, or BS for convenience sake for rest of discussion, home.  Then factors like partners, kids and pets have to be taken into account.  If anyone in your work group is fearful of animals, kids or partners is it fair to imprison you family member for hours at a time?  Consensus was in this case imprisonment was not fair, so house party out.  

The BS will either have potluck or collect money and purchase food.  Hmmm.... BS why do you want to go out and do unnecessary shopping at this time of year?  Noted by one individual - at any time of year.  One consideration is cheaper food and drinks if at BS's home.  Decision was this should be weighted strongly.

Factor in the BS's home should be large enough for flow of X many people.  Another plus is BS will do major cleaning before party which was on holiday list already.

Restaurant consideration.  The meal and drinks will be more expensive.  Positive no on is put on the spot to host. Also if you have a vibrant downtown, it might be nice to try out a new restaurant or revisit an old friend.  Remember the potluck?  Well, that is so not happening if the decision is restaurant so you are off the hook baking/cooking or seeking in and picking up a party tray of something.

Friends we are finished our coffee and have to move on.  We have list of things to do also. Sorry no consensus on party in or out.  Majority rules in majority of cases.  Regardless, have a great time wherever you show up and remember it doesn't have to be either or!!  It is not for us!!