A New Way to Celebrate

When October 1st rolls around each year, holiday mode kicks in and I’m blissful until New Years Day. I love those last three months more than any other time, because that’s when I feel most connected to everyone I meet. I always feel like we’re all celebrating together, even when I’m alone. Perhaps what I love most of all is Christmastime; Christmas crafts, in particular. It’s become an annual tradition for me and my Mom to joke that if we could stop time and live one week over and over again, we’d choose the week before Thanksgiving, because that’s when we craft for Christmas. In that window between, “Halloween was great,” and, “It’ll be over before you know it,” is where the magic happens.

Last year was particularly difficult for obvious reasons, but also because my heart dog passed away. He was one of our five, so we still have a full house, but nothing has been the same without him. Odie was special; he made hard times not so hard and good times even better. It was like nothing could ever be so bad, because it was going to be okay as long as he was around.

There was something Odie waited around for all year, too: sitting under the Christmas tree. He was always excited to see the tree coming into the house, knowing it would be his canopy for the next 45 days. He saw no difference between the tree skirt and his other beds, and I think he thought the pageantry of the season was in his honor. Thinking back, it really was.

Last year, however, I wrestled with the idea of even having a tree. It felt pointless without Odie. We don’t have children, and our other dogs are normal in the way that they don’t take notice of or interest in Christmas decorations. He left us in March, but it wasn’t until December that I was overcome by the feeling that we were finally moving on without him.

Then, one day at a charity shop, I turned a corner and there it was: the most beautiful, unusual, miniature vintage flocked Christmas tree! In that moment, I had an idea. This was going to be Odie’s tree from here on out. In true Crazy Dog Lady fashion, I also decided I was going to make the ornaments myself, and that I’d make one for each of our dogs. The ornaments I made that day are pictured; Odie is the little grey guy with a red collar, along with Lilith, Lucille, Max, and Geoffrey. I cut their silhouettes from felt and sewed them together by hand. I added lights, a star, and, of course, a skirt for Odie. It came out exactly as I imagined it, and I was so proud and happy to be keeping him in our hearts.

I did also put up our regular Christmas tree. It was a bittersweet experience, but I decided I didn’t want to make mourning a yearly habit; it only hurt so much to lose Odie because he was so wonderful, and I don’t want to be angry or sad about that on my favorite day for the rest of my life. Instead, I chose gratitude, and to do the thing I know he loved the most. That sweet little dog changed me forever, and I’m a better person because he was here. So every year, when I pull that tiny Christmas tree from a huge box of funky red and green bits and bobs, I will remember how much I loved him, how much he loved Christmas, that he’s still around, and that everything is going to be okay.