Another One Bites The Dust

Since I was three years old it has been our family tradition to chop down a tree the day after Thanksgiving. Whether or not we actually put up the Christmas tree that year is a different story. Yes, there have been years when that sad little tree just stayed in the back yard waiting to be bedazzled with lights and ornaments. I think the fact that we typically leave the Christmas tree up till mid March makes up for it, if only slightly.

So for the past fifteen years we've been making the trek out to Suffolk to a family tree farm called Ehrenzeller's, a cabin straight out of Little House on the Prairie sitting on a couple acres of land filled with trees. Despite the long sighs, moans, and groans from the girls in the family we always seem to have a good time with each other and there are countless memories I have stored away from this particular family tradition of ours.

We roll up to Ehrenzeller's but there was no trailer where the tree boys dole out handsaws, no sign out front advertising the trees, it was empty. After calling 411 we found out that they had gone out of business. Sadly, we made the drive back to Norfolk treeless. Sad that it was an end of an era for our tree chopping expeditions. But equally, if not more so, sad that there was another independent business that had to close. Come on people, support local businesses! It really makes a lot of difference when you do and, honestly, you feel a lot better about your consumerism when you support local.

I guess the new family tradition is a midnight run to Ehrenzeller's (where there are still trees, just no business) with our own personal handsaw and tweed to tie it to the car. Leaving the traditional fee of $27.50 check in their mailbox of course.