Tree defense

VIEWPOINT

By RALPH HARDIN

Evening Times Editor

My Christmas tree is under attack!

I guess I shouldn’t really be surprised. It’s a big green tree in the middle of the house covered in colorful lights, shiny balls and all manner of holiday-themed inticing trinkets, so yeah I kind of get it.

And it’s not like this is somehing new. While the cats have changed over the years, their incessant need to climb the tree, abscond with the baubles, and even find a nice comfy spot in which to hide and attack unsuspecting passersby has not.

And of course, the new dog is super curious about why there’s suddenly a big Christmas tree in the house, so she’s constantly poking her head into it, trying to figure out if it’s any cause for concern — or if there’s anything edible (or at least chewable) about it she needs to be aware of.

See VIEWPOINT, page A9 VIEWPOINT

From page A4

All of this, I’m used to. But this year, they have an accomplice, a partner in tree tampering if you will. He’s about 2 and-a-half feet tall, weighs about 25 pounds and thinks the Christmas tree is something we erected specifically for him to menace.

Yes, my grandson is a Christmas tree afficionado…

We put the tree up right before Thanksgiving (don’t judge me!) and when he came over the next day, he made a beeline for the tree, enchanted with the “baawlls” just dangling there for him to pluck.

He also thinks of the extension cord as a tasty noodle.

So, now I’m defending my Christmas tree in a three-front battle and I’m just trying to hang on until December 25th.