Buying The Tree This Year

I have Christmas fever (probably as escapism from the dreary situation here after Hurricane Katrina) because I again spent time yesterday perusing the internet for Christmas listings (the graphic below is one thing I ran into and downloaded). Every year, a few weeks prior to and up to Christmas I like to find the games, cooking recipes, activities, whatever... that is so prevalent on the net.
I do it because I am a kid at heart and it gives me joy. The universality of Christmas is one of age. We are all allowed to be children at this time, never fearing sanction for it (unless a Scrooge pops up to "Bah Humbug" our child-like pursuits) Evidently, many others feel the same way.
It's surprising to see so many free non commercial Christmas links on the net That's a testimony to the fact that many love the intangible, ethereal lift Christmas gives to their ordinary lives. The religious concept of Christmas has been lost by many (me included), as the holiday has become a secular feast of Santa Clause, gifts, parties, decorations, generosity etc. But is that bad? I think not.
Oh, well. So much for that......... Since Jane was sick last week I decided to buy our Christmas try myself. I went to Home Depot, the large home supply store that every year has the largest selection and best prices for tress. Not many tree sellers are in business here following the storm, but I expected Home Depot to be a big vender for the trees. I was wrong. Apparently the reports that shipping trees down this year was too costly has limited both the number of sellers and the amount ot trees for sale. I see about 1/3 the number of Christmas tree business this year in Kenner (here are practically none in New Orleans), and what those stands are selling is more of the larger specialty trees.
Home depot had only two sizes of trees for sale and just two varieties, the Douglas Spruce and Fraser Fir in either 6 to 7 foot sizes or 7 to 8 foot. Last year there were at least 5 different varieties and many sizes. This is a microcosm of progress here- that is, how much progress the area is making is reflected by the number and variety of Xmas trees sold. New Orleans and some other parishes have few or none, since they were destroyed and have had little rebuilding. But here in Jefferson Parish we are bouncing back quickly. This is because our damage was much less severe than New Orleans. I am encouraged that we will rebuild quickly and perhaps help New Orleans proceed faster in its own rebuilding progress. Anyway..so much for my tree report.