Christmas Tree Tradition

December 1978*
David, Michael & Joe

In December 1978* David, Michael, Joe and I continued a tradition Joe and his first wife started many years previously - going to Timbuk Farms in Granville, Ohio to cut down a Christmas tree. This was a great place for a family adventure. You rode on a wagon into the fields and went in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Using a saw, you cut it down, hauled it out to the road, and then waited for a wagon to hitch a ride back to the parking lot.

While your tree was put through a machine in which it was wrapped with twine for easy transport, you could enjoy hot chocolate. Depending on the day you went, Santa might be there to talk with the children.

Sometimes we stopped at a restaurant in Granville for a meal or snack before going back to Worthington.

We continued this tradition for many years.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Joe and Jane were both working at the Columbus State School for the Mentally Retarded in Columbus, Ohio before and then after they married. One of their friends was MB. Periodically they socialized with MB, his wife R, and their young family. Jane and Joe were very impressed with M's & R's relationship with each other and with their children. MB & RB had a tradition of cutting down their Christmas tree at Timbuk Farms. Joe and Jane decided they wanted that to be a tradition for their family too. And so it was. 

THERE'S EVEN MORE TO THE STORY

Once when the Bs were at Jane's and Joe's Olentangy Village apartment for dinner, they started talking about Jesus and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joe recalls that he told the Bs, in rather rude language, that they were invited for dinner, not to talk about religion. The Bs and Todds remained friends but nothing more was said on that topic.

AND NOW FOR THE "FINAL" REST OF THE STORY

Many years later Joe and I married. We continued the B/Todd Christmas tree tradition. Then we joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joe remembered the B family and wanted to tell them the good news. They had been gone from Columbus for decades. Joe made phone calls to "old timers" in the church in the Columbus area. He finally found someone who knew someone who might know someone ..... (This was before the days of the Internet and Facebook.) Eventually he ended up with the Bs' phone number. He called M & R and related the good news. Not only was he continuing the Christmas tree tradition but he was also now a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He also apologized for being so rude that evening long, long ago. Several years later we visited M & R at their home in Idaho.

AND NOW YOU KNOW THE STORY OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE 

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*date corrected - from 1976 to 1978