THE TRAINED PROFESSIONAL

With a vaccine for the virus still months away and infections rates soaring in Canada, it looks like Covid 19 will be hijacking Christmas this year.

No matter! 

I was off to buy a Christmas tree this morning.

I've thought about getting an artificial tree for the past several years but my adult children (despite the fact that 3 of 4 of them have gone the fake route) insist that dad get the real McCoy. Something about clinging to tradition, they insist. 

Truth be told, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Home Depot had a wide assortment to choose from and after I had paid for my selection (a seven foot scotch pine), I asked for some assistance with netting it before carrying it out to the car. 

"I'm sorry sir, the associate who's in charge of that is on break now. Would you mind waiting 10 minutes or so?"

To wrap a tree? I wondered.

"Fine, I'll be be in the outdoor garden centre,"I grumbled. 

I'm not good at the waiting game.

As the minutes dragged on, I decided to wrap the tree myself. How hard could it be? I spotted the baling machine right next to an unused cash register. Clumsily, I lifted the tree and fed it through the device, an orange mesh engulfing the branches like a dolphin in a fishnet.

Suddenly I heard footsteps, running footsteps, a tall young man fast closing in on me.

"Sir, sir, you can't be doing that," he admonished as he drew near. "You're not a trained professional."

"Actually I am," I teased. "Just not at baling trees."

He wasn't amused. Clearly, he hadn't been drinking festive eggnog on his break.

"Here, let me do that," he asserted. "Oh, I see. It's already through. Okay then, I'll just cut this mesh off for you."

He reached into his tool apron for a pair of scissors without success and glared at me as if it was my fault. 

"Just a sec," he slurred and, turning on his heels, he disappeared  back into the warmth of the store.

I didn't have the heart to tell him that a pair of shears were resting right under the baler so I made quick use of them and was on my way when the trained professional caught sight of me.

"Hey," he called out. "I see you found something to cut with." 

Though a mask covered much of his face, I could see his eyes had lost their menace.

"I left some shears by the baler," I replied." And Merry Christmas."

His eyes were smiling now. 

"And Merry Christmas to you too sir."

He gave me a long range fist pump and I responded in kind. 

What a good way to begin this special season, I thought to myself. 

May every Christmas tree this year 

help bring us together in spirit and in love.